Police warn of spike in stunt driving across Toronto

TORONTO – Toronto police are concerned about an unprecedented spike in stunt driving in the city.

Stunt driving is defined as driving at a speed of more than 50km above the posted speed limit.

Over the past weekend, Toronto police say, there were 11 arrests in the city for stunt driving. Five of the 11 arrests were on the Gardiner Expressway, police say.

During Tuesday’s press conference, police noted three significant instances that happened on the Gardiner Expressway:

Saturday April 20. 1:54 a.m., Porsche driving 169 km/h on the westbound Gardiner Expressway.

Saturday April 20, 2:40 a.m., another Porsche driving 181 km/h on the westbound Gardiner expressway.

Monday April 22, 3:48a.m., BMW driving 185km/h on the eastbound Gardiner Expressway.

“A very concerning issue in these three incidents is that the drivers had also consumed alcohol,” Toronto police Constable Clint Stibbe said.

Vehicles travelling 180km/h are travelling approximately 50 metres a second and in roughly 1.2 seconds would travel the length of the hockey rink, police said in an attempt to put the speed in perspective.

Police noted that at 180km/h it would take a car 192 meters to stop – the length of three NHL rinks.