Hamilton-area highways will get higher speed limits starting this summer

Speeds limits are increasing on three sections of highways in the Hamilton area this summer.

On Highway403 between Woodstock and Brantford, Ont., and Brantford and Hamilton, drivers will be allowed to go 110 km/h up from 100 km/h, said the Ministry of Transportation in a news release Wednesday.

The higherspeed limit will also apply to Highway406 between Thorold and Welland, Ont., in Niagara.

The changes will go into effect July 12 and are part of a wider set of speed limit changes in Ontario, the province said. Other sections of highways that will have the higher speed limitrun throughTilbury, Cobourg, Belleville, Kingston, Ottawa and Sudbury.

The highways were "originally designed" for cars to drive at 110 km/h, saidTransportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria. He said the province gathered data in 2022 that backs that up.

"These evidence-based increases are a common-sense change to make life more convenient for Ontario drivers while bringing our highway speed limits in line with other Canadian provinces," saidSarkaria.

Highways in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewanhave a maximum speed limit of 110 km/h and British Columbia's is 120 km/h.

After running a pilot project in 2019, the province permanently increased the speed limit on eight sections of Ontario highways. By the end of the year, 36 per cent of the province's highways will have the higher limit.

In areas with a speed limit of 110 km/h, stunt driving charges will apply to drivers going150 km/h and faster.

The Ontario government lowered the threshold for stunt driving charges in 2021 from 50 km/h to 40 km/h over the posted speed limit.

Those caught stunt driving can have their vehicle impounded for two weeks and licence suspended for a month, with harsher penalties for subsequent offences.