Regional Councillor Rowena Santos (Wards 1 & 5, City of Brampton) is set to bring forward a motion highlighting the urgent need for reforms in driver training and examination standards across Ontario.
The motion follows a recent incident on Highway 401 in Pickering, where Premier Doug Ford narrowly escaped harm due to the actions of a reckless driver.
“It is a relief that Premier Ford was unharmed in the accident involving a reckless driver from Oshawa. This serves as a powerful reminder of the need to prioritize road safety. While Brampton has made historic investments in speed bumps, cameras, and traffic calming measures, we lack jurisdiction over driver training and examinations, an area requiring urgent reform. The province must act on the Auditor General’s recommendations to crack down on fraudulent driving instructors and examiners who jeopardize lives for profit,” said Councillor Santos.
The motion, to be presented at Brampton’s Committee of Council meeting on Wednesday, January 15, will endorse the Auditor General’s recommendations to address fraudulent practices among driving instructors and examiners. Councillor Santos will also call on other Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) councils to support these measures and request updates from the provincial government on the progress of reforms.
The initiative underscores Brampton’s commitment to improving road safety while acknowledging the province’s critical role in ensuring drivers are properly trained and tested.