**** CNS Media Release
Amendments to Motor Vehicle Act
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Amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act will permit the safe operation of electric kick scooters (e-scooters) on municipal roadways.
Changes introduced today, April 5, set the minimum age, maximum speed and other requirements in legislation and will allow municipalities to create bylaws related to where people can operate e-scooters and other rules for their use.
“We support and encourage the safe use of alternative transportation options that are low cost, energy efficient and convenient,” said Public Works Minister Kim Masland. “When it comes to e-scooters, it makes sense for municipalities to set the rules for their use in their communities. There is growing interest in e-scooters, and we are putting general rules in place to keep everyone safe.”
The proposed amendments include a minimum age of 14 to use e-scooters, a maximum permitted speed of 32 km/h, helmet requirements and other operation restrictions. Municipalities will have the discretion to set a lower speed limit, as well as decide if e-scooters will be permitted on roads, sidewalks or shared sidewalks.
Quick Facts:
— Nova Scotia’s Motor Vehicle Act is being replaced with a new, modern Traffic Safety Act that will help make the province’s roads and highways safer
— the Traffic Safety Act is undergoing extensive consultation and is expected to take about three years to be proclaimed
— before the Traffic Safety Act is proclaimed, time-sensitive amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act will allow important projects and initiatives to move forward
Additional Resources:
Bills tabled in the legislature this spring are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1
Registry of Motor Vehicles: https://novascotia.ca/driving-and-road-safety/
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Amendments to Motor Carrier Act
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Changes to the Motor Carrier Act introduced today, April 5, will help reduce the regulatory burden and enhance safety in the motor carrier industry.
“The amendments we are introducing today will give government more flexibility to respond to the industry’s ever-changing needs,” said Public Works Minister Kim Masland. “They allow government to waive motor carrier fees in challenging times like during the pandemic and adopt federal changes to the motor carrier sector.”
In 2020 and 2021, the government waived the annual motor carrier fee in principle, but it requires a change to the Motor Carrier Act for implementation. The amendment will enable the legislative authority to waive fees, if needed.
The second amendment will make it easier for the government to change regulations by referencing other acts, regulations or other documents. This will help ensure consistency and accuracy in the motor carrier industry across jurisdictions, such as with electronic logging devices that are required across the country.
Quick Facts:
— motor carriers are commercial passenger vehicles that includes buses and vans
— the motor carrier industry had been asking for mandatory electronic logging devices
— the devices automatically log distance driven, engine run-time and other trackable data, reducing the burden on drivers to log their data by hand
— the devices have been shown to increase compliance with federal laws
Additional Resources:
Bills tabled in the legislature this spring are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1
