Announcement made at Toronto Police headquarters

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The provincial government is proposing legislation to toughen the rules for young drivers.

The proposed changes to the province's graduated licensing system include:

- extending the time it takes to get a full licence from 24 to 36 months;

- restricting teen drivers from carrying more than one passenger age 19 and under at any time during the first year;

- requiring all drivers under 22 to have a zero blood alcohol content.

Transportation Minister Jim Bradley acknowledged the proposal may not be popular with some youth.

"I think parents by and large will applaud this," he said Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Toronto Police headquarters. "I think many responsible young people will as well."

The proposed legislation would also get tougher on suspended and impaired drivers.

"We'll impound vehicles immediately at the side of the road for drivers who drive while their licence is suspended, have a blood alcohol count of more than .08 or drive without an ignition interlock device when they are required to have one," Bradley said.

"These are the drivers we do not want on the roads. These are the drivers that put our lives and the lives of our loved ones at risk."

Collisions are the leading cause of injury and death for people aged three to 33.

Last month, the province introduced legislation that would make it illegal to use handheld cellphones and other handheld electronic devices while driving.

"Ontario has among the safest roads in North America... but motor vehicle collisions continue to cost us dearly," Bradley said.

Ontario Provincial Police Chief Supt. Bill Grodzinski said the legislation gives police another tool to make the roads safer.

"We are convinced it should go a long way to reducing the toll of tragedies we see on our highways and on our roadways on a daily basis."