The City of Toronto is hiking fines for drivers who get caught in the intersection after a traffic light change, something the city is calling “blocking the box.”
Fines for improper stops in an intersection will go up by 400 percent from $90 to $450 for most streets. Stopping in an area marked “community safety zone” in Toronto will now cost 317 percent more, up from $120 to $500.
“Blocking the Box is a serious safety concern that puts vulnerable road users at risk and disrupts traffic flow,” Mayor Chow said. “This fine increase reflects our commitment to ensuring Toronto’s streets are safe for pedestrians and cyclists and reduce congestion that frustrates all road users.”
The city said that ‘blocking the box’ happens when drivers enter an intersection on a green or yellow light when there is no chance of turning before the light turns red.
McKelvie said that fine increases will make drivers consider routes more carefully when turning.
“Raising the fine will encourage drivers to think twice before entering an intersection without a clear path through to help all road users get where they need to go quickly and safely,” she said in the news release.
To make the changes, the city said it required approval from the provincial government as fines are set under the Provincial Offences Act.
As part of the changes, the city has already put up new signs at some intersections downtown, asking drivers not to ‘block the box.’
Toronto Police Service will be part of a strategy to enforce the program. Toronto city council will be updated on this in October, the news release said.
The city said it is also looking at technological options for enforcement, such as cameras. However, it noted that it would need provincial approval to make these changes.
