What Counts as a Traffic Violation and Its Consequences
Last reviewed: 2026 · Driviology Road Safety Education Team
Quick Answer
A traffic violation is any breach of MTO traffic laws, ranging from minor infractions like failing to signal to major violations like impaired driving, penalized through a demerit points system that accumulates on a driver’s record.
Traffic violations span a wide range of severity, from a minor signalling lapse up to the more serious criminal offence covered in our guide to dangerous driving.
The Range of Traffic Violations
Violations range from minor infractions, like failing to signal a lane change, to major violations, like impaired driving, each carrying different consequences.
The Demerit Points System
Each offence carries a specific number of demerit points that accumulate on a driver’s record, and accumulating too many points can lead to losing a licence entirely.
The Wider Cost of Violations
Traffic violations do not just affect the violator - they can cause congestion, collisions, and even fatalities, making adherence a social responsibility as well as a legal one.