Ford increasing speed limits on 401

[Jubee]

Well that's one sure way to fuck the highway, give access to more speed to people who have zero clue how to drive. So we'll have more accidents, slower highways at times (ironically enough).
In a few years they'll say "oops, we made a mistake" and try to pretend that they're going to do something about it.
They already slowed things down on the QEW near the CNE at Dufferin Gates. I think the DVP has some repairs this week, not sure how long that is going to go on for.

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

 

[K Douglas]

I don't agree with the increased speed limits on the 401 throughout the GTA. I do agree with increased limits on the 407 as swell as stretches of the 401 in Eastern and Southwestern Ontario. 110-115 should be sufficient.

 

[Jubee]

I don't agree with the increased speed limits on the 401 throughout the GTA. I do agree with increased limits on the 407 as swell as stretches of the 401 in Eastern and Southwestern Ontario. 110-115 should be sufficient.

It's by design, it's bad enough at 100/kmh, wtf do they think will happen when you increase to 110? More accidents, more congestion, more slowing down.
They know exactly what they're doing, they want people to rethink driving if they don't have to.

 

[maurice93]

I don't agree with the increased speed limits on the 401 throughout the GTA. I do agree with increased limits on the 407 as swell as stretches of the 401 in Eastern and Southwestern Ontario. 110-115 should be sufficient.

In the past few years, they had a pilot project on this on the 417 coming in from the Quebec Border through Ottawa.

Its 110, up until about 5 minutes before entering Ottawa, where it slows down to 100.

I can't see why they don't do the same thing on the 401. Its not really congested until you reach the GTA.

 

[dvous11]

No one can even reach 100km/hr during rush hour and also when the freeway is less busy most drive 120km/hr anyway.
Changing the limit barely matters.
Just costs taxpayers for new signs.

 

[JohnHenry]

No one can even reach 100km/hr during rush hour and also when the freeway is less busy most drive 120km/hr anyway.
Changing the limit barely matters.
Just costs taxpayers for new signs.

Unless the enforcement limit changes.

 

[Jubee]

No one can even reach 100km/hr during rush hour and also when the freeway is less busy most drive 120km/hr anyway.
Changing the limit barely matters.
Just costs taxpayers for new signs.

We'll see how this plays out. You have stretches where some can and will hit over 100.

 

[jazzbox]

Everyone on the 417 and 416 drive at 120 now and police barely do anything. Now everyone will push it to 130 and more folks will die. I could have seen this when I was young and traffic on the highways was a fraction of what it is now. Now with the huge increases in tractor trailer traffic this is nuts.

 

[maurice93]

Many US Highways are at 75MPH -- or the equivalent of 121 KMH,

Going to 110 outside of metro-areas is not that crazy.

 

[Joyrection]

I like it! If you are afraid of the speed increases then stay off the 401! Having to drive between Ottawa and Windsor most of the lane hogs and brain dead cluster in the GTA. The 400 series highways are designed for much greater speeds, the cars have better design and safety features, sadly the driving skills and common sense of the modern driver have not kept pace.

 

[Ref]

Cruising speed on the 401 is usually 120 at the least.

I drive through the GTA a couple of times a week at different hours and hitting 130 seems the norm. I will keep up with the flow of traffic until the 130 mark, then move over to the middle lane.

When I drive to Montreal I usually set the cruise control at 120 and pass cops sitting in the dividers all the time.

 

[Jubee]

I like it! If you are afraid of the speed increases then stay off the 401! Having to drive between Ottawa and Windsor most of the lane hogs and brain dead cluster in the GTA. The 400 series highways are designed for much greater speeds, the cars have better design and safety features, sadly the driving skills and common sense of the modern driver have not kept pace.

I can handle it zero problem, I'm Max Verstappen's twin, only we differ is that he doesn't like manual, I love it.

It's the other people I'm worried about.
I was witness to an accident where a guy was flying and he caused two other cars to crash into each other.
Again, time will tell if this was a smart move considering the other drivers out there.

 

[GameBoy27]

Well that's one sure way to fuck the highway, give access to more speed to people who have zero clue how to drive. So we'll have more accidents, slower highways at times (ironically enough).
In a few years they'll say "oops, we made a mistake" and try to pretend that they're going to do something about it.
They already slowed things down on the QEW near the CNE at Dufferin Gates. I think the DVP has some repairs this week, not sure how long that is going to go on for.

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

Dude, you need to take a chill pill. A 110 km/h speed limit on some sections of 400 series highways is not the end of the world. For starters, highway (or roads in general) have their own "natural" speed limit, regardless of the posted limit. It's referred to as the 85th Percentile Speed. The 85th percentile speed is the speed at or below which 85% of the free-flowing vehicles travel.

Not sure how old you are, but here's a little history of speed limits in Ontario. Note the part I've highlighted.

Ontario's first province-wide speed limit on rural highways was introduced in 1903 at 15 mph (24 km/h). The speed limit was increased to 25 mph (40 km/h) by the early 1920s and increased further to 35 mph (56 km/h) by the late 1920s. In 1937, the opening of the new Middle Road superhighway between Toronto and Hamilton prompted another review of the speed limits on Ontario highways. The speed limit on most rural highways was increased to 50 mph (80 km/h) in May 1937. During World War II, the speed limits were temporarily lowered to 40 mph (65 km/h) to conserve Canada's fuel supplies. The next speed limit increase took place in 1959, when the speed limit for passenger cars using the new superhighways such as Highway 400 and Highway 401 was changed to 60 mph (100 km/h). The speed limit for trucks and heavy vehicles on the superhighways was increased to 55 mph (90 km/h) in 1959. On some high standard two-lane highways, the speed limit for passenger cars was increased as high as 60 mph (100 km/h) in 1959. In the late 1960s, the speed limit on the 400-Series Highways was increased again to 70 mph (115 km/h) for passenger cars and 60 mph (100 km/h) for trucks and heavy vehicles. During the energy crisis of the mid-1970s, the speed limit for passenger vehicles was changed back to 60 mph (100 km/h). The energy crisis also brought about the reduction of speed limits on most conventional highways back to a maximum of 55 mph (90 km/h). During the conversion to Metric measurements in 1977, the speed limit on most conventional highways was reduced even further to 80 km/h. Since the 1970s, the speed limit on Ontario freeways has generally remained at 100 km/h (60 mph), while conventional highways have generally remained at 80 km/h (50 mph).

Rest assured, chaos will not ensue with a 10 km/h (6.21 mph) increase in the speed limit.

 

[Kautilya]

How often do you actually just do 100 kmph? When am on the highway I do atleast 140, slowing down based on Waze reports of police. No one really follows the speed limit. And it is just a 10kmph speed limit increase at the end of the day.

 

[GameBoy27]

How often do you actually just do 100 kmph? When am on the highway I do atleast 140, slowing down based on Waze reports of police. No one really follows the speed limit. And it is just a 10kmph speed limit increase at the end of the day.

If the traffic is light, I usually drive at 120-130 km/h on 400 series highways. That's still slow to me, compared to the 220 km/h I reach every lap at Mosport in my track car. One thing I'll never do is drive in the "stunt driving" range. Not risking that nightmare.

 

[SaturnFan]

I'm not sure I agree with the Colborne to Belleville stretch of the 401. Brighton to Colborne can be nasty in the wintertime.


Starting July 12, 2024, the speed limit will be permanently raised to 110 km/h on most of the following provincial highway sections, with the remainder coming into force before the end of the year:

• Hwy 401, Tilbury, extending the existing 110 km/h zone further east by 7 km
• Hwy 401 from Hwy 35/115 to Cobourg (approximately 35 km)
• Hwy 401 from Colborne to Belleville (approximately 44 km)
• Hwy 401 from Belleville to Kingston (approximately 66 km)
• Hwy 401 from Hwy 16 to Quebec boundary (approximately 107 km)
• Hwy 403 from Woodstock to Brantford (approximately 26 km)
• Hwy 403 from Brantford to Hamilton (approximately 14.5 km)
• Hwy 406 from Thorold to Welland (approximately 13 km)
• Hwy 416 from Hwy 401 to Ottawa (approximately 70 km)
• Hwy 69 from Sudbury to French River (approximately 60 km)
• 
  
  
• 

 

[richaceg]

What they really need to do is have stricter driving / road test because there are tons of drivers who aren't suppose to be driving....

 

[SaturnFan]

In the late 1960s, the speed limit on the 400-Series Highways was increased again to 70 mph (115 km/h) for passenger cars and 60 mph (100 km/h) for trucks and heavy vehicles. During the energy crisis of the mid-1970s, the speed limit for passenger vehicles was changed back to 60 mph (100 km/h). The energy crisis also brought about the reduction of speed limits on most conventional highways back to a maximum of 55 mph (90 km/h). During the conversion to Metric measurements in 1977, the speed limit on most conventional highways was reduced even further to 80 km/h.

On the Labour Day weekend in 1977 speed limit roadsigns nationwide were changed to metric. I can't speak to all jusisdictions, but I seem to recall that the 70mph (112km/h) signs on 400 series highways in Ontario were changed to 100 km/h. Who remembers sticking little paper notes on their standard speedometers with the metric equivalents ? There were very few metric speedos back then.

Most two lane highways in Northern Ontario have (had?) 90 km/h speed limits whereas two lane highways in Southern Ontario are still 80 km/h.

 

[Whoasexy]

We can actually see what will happen if we look south. Speed limits on US highways have been increasing over the last 10 years and this is accompanied by increased motor vehicle fatalities.

per IIHS:
“Raising speed limits leads to more deaths.”

Speed

Information from IIHS-HLDI on speed, including speed limits and speed cameras

www.iihs.org

.

 

[The Oracle]

Everyone on the 417 and 416 drive at 120 now and police barely do anything. Now everyone will push it to 130 and more folks will die. I could have seen this when I was young and traffic on the highways was a fraction of what it is now. Now with the huge increases in tractor trailer traffic this is nuts.

This is worrisome for me as well...A certain percentage of drivers will push the limits.

Personally I used to drive like a bat out of hell when I was younger but now just the opposite.

I'm quite content to take a little extra time to get where I'm going and arrive safer.

Black ice and snow squalls on the 401 are something to take seriously. Reaction times will be greatly reduced