(CHATHAM-KENT, ON) In five separate incidents over the weekend, Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers laid five stunt driving charges. Three charges were laid on November 7, and the other two charges were laid on November 8.
November 7, 2015 – Just before 10:30 a.m., an officer observed a westbound BMW SUV near Charing Cross Road that appeared to be exceeding the posted speed limit of 100 km/hr. The RADAR registered a speed of approximately 166 km/hr. The 22-year-old male driver from Whitby has been charged with stunt driving and will appear in court at a later date to answer to the charge.
Later, just before 3:00 p.m., an officer observed a westbound Ford car near Kent Bridge Road that appeared to be exceeding the posted speed limit of 100 km/hr. The RADAR registered a speed of approximately 159 km/hr. The 56-year-old driver from Oakville has been charged with stunt driving and will appear in court at a later date to answer to the charge.
The third incident occurred just before 8:30 p.m., when an officer observed an eastbound BMW SUV near Kennesserie Road that appeared to be exceeding the posted speed limit of 100 km/hr. The RADAR registered a speed of approximately 162 km/hr. The 57-year-old man from Stoney Creek has been charged with stunt driving and will appear in court at a later date to answer to the charge.
November 8, 2015 – Just after 3:30 a.m., an officer observed a westbound Mitsubishi SUV near Drake Side Road that appeared to be exceeding the posted speed limit of 100 km/hr. The RADAR registered a speed of approximately 160 km/hr. The 23-year-old female from Windsor has been charged with stunt driving and will appear in court at a later date to answer to the charge.
The second incident occurred just before 1:30 p.m., when an officer observed an eastbound Cadillac SUV near Orford Road that appeared to be exceeding the posted speed limit of 100 km/hr. The RADAR registered a speed of approximately 154 km/hr. The 34-year-old male driver from Windsor has been charged with stunt driving and will appear in court at a later date to answer to the charge.
In each incident, the driver’s licence has been suspended and the vehicle impounded for a period of seven days, as per statute.
Chatham-Kent OPP would like to remind drivers that stunt driving or racing, is one of the most serious and reckless forms of aggressive driving, and it puts everyone on the road at serious risk of injury or death. Aggressive driving is one of the “Big Four” driving behaviours that contribute to road fatalities in Ontario. As of October 4, 2015, speed was a factor in 48 of the 170 road deaths investigated by OPP.
The risk of a fatality or serious injury is almost five times greater for vehicles crashing at 50 km/hr or more above the posted limit on a highway with a posted limit of 100 km/hr. On roads with a posted limit of 60 km/hr or lower, the risk is almost eight times greater for vehicles crashing at 50 km/hr or more above the posted limit.
The penalties for driving 50 km/hr or more over the speed limit are as follows:
· Immediate 7-day licence suspension and 7-day vehicle impoundment
· Upon conviction, $2000 to $10,000 fine, 6 demerit points, up to 6 months jail, up to 2 years licence suspension for a first conviction
· Driver’s licence suspension of up to 10 years for a second conviction within 10 years
Chatham-Kent OPP would also like to remind drivers, that with the winter season quickly approaching, road conditions can deteriorate quickly. Maintaining good driving habits, keeping speeds within the posted speed limits and adjusting speeds according to the road conditions, will greatly reduce the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle collision.
Chatham-Kent OPP is committed to keeping the roads and highways safe for everyone.
For more information, please visit the OPP website at www.opp.ca, or visit the Ministry of Transportation website at www.mto.gov.on.ca