SAAQ Class 5: Accidents, insurance and fines

Québec's public no-fault insurance, mandatory liability insurance, what to do at the scene of an accident, and fines for common offences, speeding and work-zone speeding.

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Accidents, insurance and fines · Question 1Score 0/0

You drive through a pedestrian crosswalk without yielding to a person waiting to cross. What fine range applies?

Tip: press 1–4 to answer and Enter for the next question.

Study reference: SAAQ Driver's Handbook (2nd edition), Ch. 5 Accidents, pp. 287–296; Ch. 6 Offences and Consequences — Offences and fines, pp. 299–307

All 20 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

You drive through a pedestrian crosswalk without yielding to a person waiting to cross. What fine range applies?
1. $30 to $60
2. $100 to $200
3. $500 to $1,000
4. $60 to $100
In a 90 km/h zone, from how many km/h over the limit does speeding count as excessive speeding, with a doubled fine?
1. 50 km/h or more
2. 30 km/h or more
3. 60 km/h or more
4. 40 km/h or more
Leaving a child alone in a motor vehicle is fined $60 to $100 when the child is under what age?
1. 7
2. 10
3. 5
4. 12
After parking near an accident scene, how should you first warn approaching drivers?
1. Flash your high beams
2. Sound your horn repeatedly
3. Turn on your hazard lights
4. Leave your doors open
You are the first driver to arrive at a collision on a rural road. About how far away should you park on the shoulder?
1. About 5 metres
2. About 100 metres
3. About 30 metres
4. About 150 metres
A driver convicted of excessive speeding already has three earlier excessive-speeding convictions in the past 10 years. What happens to the fine?
1. It is doubled
2. It is tripled
3. It stays the same
4. It increases by $1,000
You are clocked at 75 km/h on a city street where this sign is posted. Using Québec's speeding formula, what is the base fine?
1. $55
2. $90
3. $75
4. $105
A spectator is injured during an automobile race on a track closed to other traffic. What does the public plan provide?
1. Compensation only if the driver was at fault
2. No compensation, because races are excluded
3. Full compensation, like any road accident
4. Compensation only for spectators
You are caught driving 35 km/h over the limit in a road construction zone marked by signs. How is the fine calculated?
1. A flat $1,000 fine applies
2. The normal amount is doubled
3. The normal amount is tripled
4. The normal amount applies
You disagree with an SAAQ decision on your accident compensation. Within how long must you apply for a review?
1. 30 days of being notified
2. 10 days of being notified
3. 60 days of being notified
4. 90 days of being notified
An injured driver is sitting in a crashed car. There is no fire and traffic has been stopped. Should you move them?
1. No, leave them where they are
2. Yes, lay them flat on the road
3. Yes, sit them on the shoulder
4. Yes, move them into your own car
Two snowmobiles collide on a trail far from any road and one rider is injured. Is the injury covered by Québec's public automobile insurance plan?
1. Yes, all Québec residents are covered
2. Only if the rider was not at fault
3. No, since no moving car was involved
4. Yes, if the trail crosses a public road
A driver is caught at 120 km/h in a 70 km/h zone, which counts as excessive speeding. What is the fine?
1. $795
2. $530
3. $315
4. $265
A driver is caught racing another car on a public road for a bet. What is the fine?
1. $3,000
2. $1,000
3. $500
4. $200
You hit an animal on a rural road and cannot reach its owner. You must report the collision to the nearest police station if the animal weighs more than:
1. 25 kg
2. 10 kg
3. 100 kg
4. 50 kg
What fine range applies to a driver who does not wear a properly fastened seat belt?
1. $100 to $200
2. $200 to $300
3. $300 to $600
4. $80 to $100
What fine range applies to passing a school bus while its flashing lights are operating?
1. $1,000 to $3,000
2. $100 to $200
3. $200 to $300
4. $60 to $100
Québec's public no-fault insurance plan for bodily injury has been in effect since which year?
1. 1990
2. 1985
3. 1961
4. 1978
A police officer stops you because your 10-year-old passenger is not buckled up. What fine range do you face as the driver?
1. $80 to $100
2. $300 to $600
3. $30 to $60
4. $200 to $300
A Québec resident is injured in a car crash that was partly their own fault. Who compensates them for their bodily injuries?
1. Only the other driver, through a lawsuit
2. No one, since they were partly at fault
3. The SAAQ, regardless of fault
4. The at-fault driver's private insurer

Accidents, insurance and fines: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Automobile insurance in Québec

Owners must hold third-party liability insurance for property damage of at least $50,000, bought from private insurers.
The SAAQ compensates, regardless of fault, every Quebecer who suffers bodily injury in a road accident, inside or outside Québec.
Public plan in effect since 1978; no-fault for bodily injury, so civil lawsuits for these injuries were eliminated. Prosecution for dangerous driving etc. under the Highway Safety Code or Criminal Code still possible.

Outside Québec; non-residents

Quebecers injured outside Québec still get SAAQ bodily-injury compensation, at fault or not.
If you are at fault outside Québec you can be sued there; your private liability insurance (mandatory for travel in North America) protects you — check it is enough before travelling.
If not at fault outside Québec, you may sue there for amounts above what the SAAQ pays, where local law allows.
Non-residents driving/riding in a Québec-registered vehicle on Québec roads are covered like Quebecers.

Other non-residents; accidents not covered

Other non-residents (vehicle not registered in Québec, or pedestrians) are compensated only if not responsible.
Not covered by the public plan: races, contests or shows on a track closed to other traffic (drivers, passengers or spectators); snowmobile or other off-road vehicle (e.g. ATV) accidents unless a moving automobile is involved; off-public-road injuries by farm tractors/trailers or equipment vehicles unless a moving automobile is involved; injuries from equipment that works independently of a vehicle not moving on a public road.
Owners of such vehicles/equipment need private coverage.

Special cases

On-the-job road accidents: claim with the CNESST first; if refused, claim with the SAAQ with the rejection letter.
Assault with a vehicle: choose Crime Victims Compensation Act or Automobile Insurance Act. Injured while helping someone in distress: choose Act to Promote Good Citizenship or Automobile Insurance Act.

Compensation, rehabilitation, appeal

Indemnities include income replacement, loss of employment, care expenses, lump sums for after-effects, reimbursement of medical/ambulance/etc. costs, loss of a school year, death benefits, funeral costs.
Income basis indexed every year on the accident's anniversary date; many other indemnities indexed every January 1.
SAAQ may pay for rehabilitation (home/vehicle adaptation, retraining).
Review of an SAAQ decision: apply within 60 days of notification (signed Application for Review form). Contest the review decision within 60 days before the Administrative Tribunal of Québec.

Property damage; hit-and-run and insolvency

Property-damage liability insurance is mandatory. Collision between two or more vehicles with known owners: each owner claims from their own insurer (Direct Compensation Agreement).
SAAQ may compensate property damage when the responsible party is insolvent/underinsured (after a Québec court judgment) or unknown (hit-and-run).

In the event of an accident (if you are injured)

Five steps: call police (accident report); see a doctor ASAP; contact the SAAQ to claim (1 888 810-2525); notify your insurer of property damage; make sure the doctor sends the medical report to the SAAQ.

Reporting; at the scene

Collision with an inanimate object, an animal over 25 kg or an unoccupied vehicle with no owner reachable at or near the scene: report immediately to the nearest police station (fine if you don't).
First motorist at the scene: park on the shoulder about 30 m away; turn on hazard lights (flares help); have people direct traffic at a safe distance; switch off ignitions of crashed vehicles and keep anyone from smoking; give first aid if you know how, otherwise avoid handling the injured; phone police with location, number of injured and vehicles.
Never move an injured person unless there is imminent danger of fire or of being hit by another vehicle.

First aid

Keep a first-aid kit. Stop bleeding with pressure; cover with a clean dressing.
Burns: cover; never break blisters or remove clothing.
Keep the victim warm; give nothing to eat or drink if unconscious or possibly bleeding internally.

Offences (intro)

Main statute: Highway Safety Code. Paying a fine = admitting guilt. Other fees and an IVAC contribution are added to fines.

Fines: driver's licence

Not carrying licence: $30–$60. Not reporting address change within 30 days: $60–$100. False info on application: $300–$600. Driving without the right licence class: $300–$600.
Driving after any alcohol for learner/probationary holders, age 21 or younger, etc.: $300–$600.
Driving while suspended: $300–$600 (other reasons), $600–$2,000 (demerit points), $1,500–$3,000 (driving-related criminal conviction).

Fines: registration, vehicle and accessories

Not carrying registration/insurance proof: $60–$100. Altering/removing a seat belt: $200–$300. Brakes altered to reduce effectiveness: $200–$300. Deactivating an air bag: $300–$600. Installing a radar detector: $500–$1,000. Altering a vehicle identification number: $600–$2,000.

Fines: traffic

Sudden braking without reason $30–$60.
Leaving a child under 7 unsupervised in a vehicle $60–$100.
Not using low beams within 150 m of oncoming/preceding vehicle or on a well-lit road $60–$100.
Driving with a passenger under 16 not properly belted/restrained $80–$100.
Not yielding to a pedestrian at a crosswalk $100–$200; at a green or pedestrian light $100–$200. Ignoring road signs $100–$200; no signal before passing $100–$200; tailgating $100–$200.
$200–$300: speeding up when being passed; not wearing a seat belt; passing a school bus with flashing lights on; illegal passing on the right; passing a bicycle without enough room; zigzag passing; crossing a solid line to pass; stopping 5 m or less from a school bus with red lights flashing.
Not obeying a peace officer, crossing guard or flagperson $200–$400.

Fines: traffic (continued)

Drinking alcohol in a vehicle: driver $300–$600, passenger $200–$300.
Electronic device while driving: $300–$600 first offence; $600 repeat (2-year period).
Racing/wager with another vehicle (outside an approved rally): $1,000. Hanging on to a moving vehicle or riding on its outside/box: $1,000.
Move Over law (not slowing/changing lanes near an emergency vehicle with lights or siren): $60–$200.

Speeding fines

Unsafe speed / act endangering life or property: $1,000–$3,000.
Formula: $15 plus an amount for each 5 km/h over the limit — 1–20 over: $10 per 5 km/h ($15–$55); 21–30: $15 ($75–$105); 31–45: $20 ($135–$195); 46–60: $25 ($240–$315); 61 or more: $30 ($375 and up).
Too fast for weather/traffic: $60–$100.

Worked examples and other fines

75 km/h in a 50 km/h zone (25 over): $15 + 5 × $15 = $90.
120 km/h in a 70 km/h zone (50 over, excessive): $15 + 10 × $25 = $265, doubled = $530.
Inspection: minor-repair vehicle back on the road after 48 h without proof $100–$200; major-repair vehicle without proof $300–$600.
Motorcycle/moped fines (helmet $200–$300, eye protection $80–$100, etc.) — belong to other topics.

Bicycle, foot scooter, pedestrian fines

Cyclists: most offences $80–$100 (e.g. headphones, handling an electronic device, no reflector/light at night). Power-assisted bicycle offences $100–$200.
Foot scooters $15–$30 / $25–$50. Pedestrians ignoring signals or crossing away from a nearby crosswalk $80–$100.

Excessive speeding (definition, demerit-points page)

Excessive speeding = 40 km/h or more over in a zone of 60 km/h or less; 50 km/h or more over in a zone over 60 and up to 90 km/h; 60 km/h or more over in a 100 km/h zone.

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