News release

Public Input on Weights and Dimensions Regulations

Public Works

The government is seeking input on the final phase of draft regulations for the Traffic Safety Act.

Nova Scotians can now provide feedback on proposed regulations on weights and dimensions of all vehicles including trucks, buses, trailers and other vehicles. The proposed regulations focus on the width, length, height and weight, as well as the required number of axles.

Highlights of this phase of regulations include:

  • a complete reorganization of the regulations
  • the addition of special move permit conditions
  • the inclusion of long combination vehicles which were previously under pilot provisions
  • the expansion of road types for trucks pulling more than one trailer.

Nova Scotians can review the draft regulations and provide feedback at: https://novascotia.ca/traffic-safety-act-public-engagement/ . The deadline for feedback is March 31.

This is the eighth and final set of draft regulations being shared for public comment. To date, the Department has received almost 2,000 comments on the draft regulations previously released.

The new Traffic Safety Act, replacing the Motor Vehicle Act, was passed in 2018. The new act will govern and regulate the registration and identification of motor vehicles and the use of provincial highways and roads. This includes driver licences, the registration and inspection of vehicles, traffic laws and equipment standards.

The act will come into effect after the regulations are finalized and the new Registry of Motor Vehicles computer system is completed.

Quick Facts:

  • the Traffic Safety Act was passed unanimously in the fall of 2018 and will replace the Motor Vehicle Act, which was written in the early 1920s
  • since the last major revision in 1989, the Motor Vehicle Act has been amended more than 62 times
  • the Traffic Safety Act is designed as a framework, setting broad policy and regulatory authority to quickly address changing technologies and future road-safety needs
  • the new act reflects significant stakeholder engagement with 31 groups and 23 partners, including Bicycle Nova Scotia, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Road Safety Advisory Committee, Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police and Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

Additional Resources:

The Traffic Safety Act: https://nslegislature.ca/legc/bills/63rd_2nd/3rd_read/b080.htm

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