Premier Doug Ford vows to implement law targeting dangerous drivers

Premier Doug Ford met with the family of a man killed in a car crash that was allegedly the result of dangerous driving, vowing to support the family’s call for tougher driving laws.

The alleged dangerous driver was actually the same person who hit an Ontario Provincial Police vehicle carrying the premier months before the deadly crash.

“This wasn’t an accident, it was a murder,” said Ford.

Flanked by his solicitor general and transport minister, Ford made a pledge to the grieving family.

“I promised their family that I am going to go through with Andrew’s Law,” said Ford.

Andrew’s Law is a proposed set of changes to strengthen driving legislation, named after a 35-year-old father of three Andrew Cristillo.

He was killed in a head-on crash Aug. 3, on Highway 48 in Whitchurch-Stouffville.

The crash also left his three daughters with life-altering injuries, and his wife was injured too.

READ MORE: Ford promises new Ontario dangerous driving law in honour of man killed in crash

“It means that my brother is not dying in vain, and it means that this is gonna help save countless lives,” said Jordan Cristillo, Andrew’s brother.

Ford is promising to push through Andrew’s Law during the fall legislative session, which he says will include:

• immediate roadside license suspensions;
• revoking a person’s license until their charges are resolved at trial;
• lifetime driving bans for people convicted of extreme dangerous driving crimes;
• mandatory jail for people driving without a license.

“We’re gonna come down hard on this, no tolerance,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, the Ontario Transport Minister.

The 18-year-old man charged in the crash that killed Cristillo is also the same person charged with dangerous driving, after a car hit an OPP vehicle that Ford was travelling in on Highway 401, in January.

“This individual had already done it once, was out,” said Sarkaria. “There’s also criminal code charges that should be applied.”

A change.org petition supporting the changes has reached over 34,000 signatures.

The new proposed legislation Ford promised could come as soon as the week of Oct. 20, when the legislature begins its fall session.

WATCH MORE: Construction on Highway 413 to start soon, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says