What to know
- Ontario’s final wave of highway speed-limit increases took effect Sept. 30, bringing 89 per cent of provincial highways to 110 km/h, up from 43 per cent before the latest changes.
- The latest changes affect sections of Highways 403, 404, 406, 407, 412, 418 and the QEW.
- The province says the higher limits will help drivers save time and that the affected highways were designed to accommodate speeds of 110 km/h.
- Research cited by TMU professor Bhagwant Persaud suggests a 10 km/h increase in the posted limit could lead to a 3–4 km/h increase in average operating speeds, while other research has linked higher speed limits with more severe crashes.
- Ontario’s transportation minister has said the province did not see an increase in fatalities after speed limits were raised on other highway sections in 2022 and 2024.
More Ontario highways will now have a 110 km/h speed limit, as the final wave of speed increases took effect on Wednesday.
This summer, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced it would raise the speed limit from 100 km/h to 110 km/h across 938 kilometres of provincial highways. With the increase coming into effect, 89 per cent of the province’s highways now have a 110 km/h speed limit compared to only 43 per cent before then.
The increases were gradually rolled out in different highway sections, with the final round coming into effect on Sept. 30, now including:
- Highway 403 from the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) to Highway 401
- Highway 404 from Highway 401 to Mulock Drive
- Highway 406 from Westchester Avenue to Highway 58
- Highway 407 from Brock Road to Highway 35/115
- Highway 412 from Highway 401 to Highway 407
- Highway 418 from Highway 401 to Highway 407
- QEW from the Freeman Interchange to Highway 403
- QEW from Concession Road to McLeod Road
- QEW from Mountain Road to Jordan Road
The new increases build on a provincial move that increased speeds on 10 sections in 2024 and six sections in 2022. According to the province, the two increases had been successful in helping drivers commute faster while staying safe. It also says increases are only coming to highways built to accommodate these speeds.
“With this new speed limit in place, drivers travelling from Sarnia to Toronto could save nearly 20 minutes, while those travelling from Toronto to Ottawa could save nearly half an hour,” Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said in a statement.
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Researchers raise safety concerns
An increase from 100 km/h to 110 km/h might seem small, but research by Dr. Bhagwant Persaud, a Transportation Engineering professor at TMU, suggests that it could translate into higher operating speeds.
In a study shared with Now Toronto, Persaud cites a report that analyzed operating speeds in Saskatchewan after the limits were increased across four rural highways, which found that the average operating speed went from 107 km/h to 111 km/h after it came into effect.
The study suggests that in Ontario, the speed limit increases could lead to a 3–4 km/h increase in operating speeds.
As explained in the study, operating speed increases don’t often translate into more accidents; however, small increases are associated with increase in injuries or fatalities as a result of crashes.
Another study analyzing accidents in British Columbia after a 10 km/h speed limit increase across 1,300 kilometres of provincial highways found that severe crashes increased by 11.1 per cent.
On the other hand, Sarkaria has previously told reporters the province did not see an increase in fatalities since increasing speed limits in 2022 and 2024.
Torontonians weigh in
Now Toronto spoke with residents in the city about their takes on the speed limit increases.
One resident, Matt S., said although he doesn’t believe speed limit increases are necessary in the GTA core, they are acceptable in more isolated highways.
“I think that that exists in other countries, where if you’re in rural areas, it’s a little more acceptable. But in the city, I don’t think it would change much. I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said.
“People are going to drive over the speed limit, whether it’s 100, 110, 120 km/h. I mean, anyone who frequents the highways knows that.”
Another resident, Mike T., agreed that the speed limit is appropriate, saying highways were built to accommodate higher limits. On the other hand, he doesn’t think having high speed limits will help control traffic.
“It’s solving a problem that’s not really a problem. If the province wants to do something for traffic, then they should be addressing what’s going on in Toronto because I just drove to Newmarket this past weekend, and once you get over the 407, clear sailing all the way up. But it’ll take you two-thirds of your journey to go from downtown Toronto just to get to the 407,” he said.
A different resident also agreed with the increases, saying that he has seen similar limits in highways across other countries.
“As somebody who’s driven through Europe, who’s been on highways where there’s no limit, it’s pretty scary. But you get used to it. You just have to go with the flow of traffic,” Alfred T. said.
“With cars today, there are a lot of safety features, and I also think that traffic will get way better and things will improve.”
