Ontario is cracking down on stunt driving and other dangerous traffic offences

Anyone who lives in and around Toronto knows that stunt driving and street racing have been ongoing issues that have worsened over the course of the pandemic while roads have been a little emptier.

Definitely feels like since this latest lockdown started, the street racing has intensified in Toronto. All I can hear outside is screeching tyres.

— (ノ°Д°）ノ︵ ǝɯoɥ ɯoɹɟ sןןnoɔ (@coulls) January 15, 2021

Despite stay-at-home orders and gathering restrictions prohibiting things like car meets and rallies in Ontario, those who love to soup up their crappy Hondas and perform donuts for a crowd have continued to congregate, going as far as lighting off fireworks from passenger's side windows, setting the ground alight and other very unnecessary exploits.

But local residents, police and the government have had enough, with the province now vowing to take far stronger enforcement action against such offences through a new piece of legislation.

.@TorontoPolice investigating overnight street takeover/ street racing incident which saw suspects light the roadway on fire with gasoline. When police arrived, they were blocked and chased away by a large crowd. #Toronto pic.twitter.com/6ZRfqZJWvo

— Andrew Collins (@ACollinsPhoto) April 4, 2021

As part of the Moving Ontarians More Safely Act, 2021, penalties for things like street racing, stunts and generally aggressive and unsafe driving would be heightened, changing the current license suspension period of seven-days to 30 days, and the current seven-day car impoundment period to two weeks.

There would also be harsher punishments for repeat offenders, who could have their driver's license suspended for an entire lifetime if they are caught stunt driving four times.

And, the threshold for what is considered street racing or stunt driving in the first place would be lowered to 40 km/h above the speed limit in areas that have a posted limit under 80 km/h.

I hear street racing outside my house 24/7 now every single damn day! I would absolutely love to not hear honda civic’s go 50 over the speed limit every time I breathe! Please @ toronto make it stop!!!

— Jordan✨ (@jordancicchelli) November 8, 2020

Other key parts of the new bill, which has yet to be passed, are more governmental control of the tow truck industry — which has been somewhat of a wild west — and some interesting new ways of addressing some other big safety concerns on the thoroughfares of major cities in particular.

For example, there is a plan to add new automated cameras to catch drivers who fly past streetcars making stops to let passengers on and off — an all-too-common hazard in Toronto.

Also, the province wants to start keeping better track of things like car doorings and other cyclist woes.

Speeding and stunt driving has been a longstanding issue in Toronto, putting the lives of pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers at risk.

This proposed legislation will hold those who partake in this illegal and dangerous activity accountable - making our streets safer for all. https://t.co/Il0khSdTr0

— John Tory (@JohnTory) April 26, 2021

Hopefully the tighter rules and tougher discipline will mean fewer street-racing yahoos putting themselves and others in danger on our roadways for the sake of a smokey, fiery vid for social media.