Failing to Remain at the Scene of a Collision

What the law requires after a collision

Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, a driver involved in a collision — whether it involves another vehicle, a pedestrian, a cyclist, or property — is required to stop at or as near as possible to the scene, provide their name, address, and vehicle information to anyone involved (or to police), and offer reasonable assistance to anyone who's injured. This applies regardless of who caused the collision or how minor it may seem at the time; the obligation to stop and exchange information doesn't depend on fault.

Why it carries 7 demerit points

Failing to remain at the scene of a collision carries 7 demerit points — the highest point value in Ontario's demerit-point schedule, shared only with failing to stop for a police officer. That severity reflects the harm the rule is designed to prevent: leaving a collision scene can deprive an injured person of timely help, leave another driver unable to identify who they need to pursue for damages, and complicate any investigation into what happened. A conviction can also carry a licence suspension and a fine well beyond a routine ticket, depending on the circumstances, particularly where an injury was involved.

How this differs from failing to stop for police

This offence is sometimes confused with failing to stop for a police officer, since both carry the same 7-point value and both involve leaving a scene. They're distinct offences, though: failing to remain is about your obligations after a collision has already happened, regardless of whether police are anywhere nearby at the time, while failing to stop for police is specifically about ignoring a signal or direction from an officer to pull over. It's possible to be charged with one without the other, and the specific wording on your ticket or charge sheet will tell you which applies.

What to do if you're involved in a collision

Regardless of how minor a collision seems, the safest course is to stop, check on everyone involved, and exchange the required information before leaving — even if you believe you weren't at fault, or the damage looks small. If you're unsure whether a specific incident (for example, a very minor parking-lot bump with no one around) required you to do more than you did, that's a good question to bring to a qualified legal professional rather than assume based on how minor it felt at the time.

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