City staff recommend no changes to driving instruction prohibition zones around Drive Test Centres

The sign outside City Hall in Ottawa (CTV News Ottawa)

City of Ottawa staff recommend keeping prohibition zones for driving instructors limited to areas around Drive Test Centres, as residents raise concerns about the ban impacting community streets.

Councillor Jessica Bradley asked city staff about the criteria used to implement restrictions for driving instruction sessions on city streets and what tools have been explored to mitigate community concerns about driving schools using neighbourhoods streets.

“While temporary restrictions for the provision of driving instruction on city streets may be appropriate, the continued prohibition on certain streets/areas has broader impacts to nearby communities/streets,” Bradley said in her inquiry.

Under the Municipal Act, municipalities have the authority to licence, regulate and govern business within the city. In 2002, Council approved the licensing and regulation of driving school operators and driving instructors.

The City of Ottawa has prohibited driving schools from providing instructions in the area near the Canotek Drive Test Centre since 2007 and the Walkley Drive Test Centre since 2011.

“The prohibition zones were implemented specifically in the areas in which provincial drive tests are conducted, following receipt of numerous complaints from the public and from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) about traffic and pedestrian safety,” said the report for the emergency preparedness and protective services committee. “The safety concerns were specifically related to significant increases in traffic in the residential areas and to new drivers practicing three-point turns and parallel parking.”

In response to Bradley’s inquiry, staff say the criteria used to implement restrictions for driving school instructions include the proximity to an Ontario Drive Test Centre, along with the volume or driving school traffic, construction and the number of complaints.

Emergency and Protective Services general manager Ryan Perrault says Bylaw and Regulatory Services attempted to obtain voluntary compliance from driving school operators through notices before implementing rules.

“However, this practice generally did not result in compliance. Bylaw Enforcement Officers also conducted patrols of these areas and spot checks,” Perrault said.

“It is important to note that BLRS does not have the authority to prohibit driving schools from operating in areas of concern without a specific prohibition in the bylaw and an associated chargeable offence.”

Perrault said staff recommend keeping the instruction prohibition zones limited to areas near the Drive Test Centres.

“These prohibition zones were established by Council to prevent instruction in the provincial examination routes, which were preferred by both the driving schools and the students as a way to improve test outcomes,” Perrault writes.

There are currently 72 driving school operators and 217 instructors licensed in Ottawa.

Driving School Operating Restrictions

There are currently two areas where licensed driving schools are prohibited from offering or providing driving instruction – near the Canotek Drive Test Centre and the Walkley Drive Test Centre.

• The area bounded on the south by Montreal Road, on the east by Shefford Road, on the north by the Rockcliffe Parkway and on the west by Blair Road.
• The area bounded on the south by the north side of Kitchener Avenue, on the east by Albion Road, on the north by Walkley Road and on the west by Bank Street.