Speed limit increases to 110 km/h on Hwy. 416, sections of Hwy. 401 in eastern Ontario

The speed limit on Highway 416 south of Ottawa and on sections of Highway 401 in eastern Ontario has increased by 10 km/h.

The Ontario government has increased the speed limit from 100 km/h to 110 km/h on 10 sections of highways across Ontario.

Starting Friday, the speed limit on approximately 70 kilometres of Highway 416, between Highway 401 and Ottawa, is permanently 110 km/h.

The speed limit has also increased to 110 km/h on three sections of Highway 401 in eastern Ontario, including on 107 km of the highway from Highway 16 to the Quebec boundary, on 66 km between Belleville and Kingston and on 44 km between Colborne and Belleville.

The Ontario government has announced plans to increase the speed limit on Hwy. 416 between Hwy. 401 and Ottawa to 110 km/h, starting this summer. (Google Maps)

This is the latest increase in the speed limit on the 400 series of highways in Ontario. In 2019, the province launched a pilot project to increase the speed limits on six sections of provincial highways to 110 km/h, including on Highway 417 between Ottawa and the Quebec border and Highway 417 from the Kanata area to Arnprior.  The change was made permanent in 2022.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reminding people of the dangers associated with speeding.

OPP spokesperson Bill Dickson says people are asked to obey the speed limits at all times, noting that speed is one of the main reasons causing collisions on the highways.

“Even though the speed limit has gone up by 10 km/h in some sections, we encourage people to still obey those speed limits, because we know that going beyond the speed limit is dangerous," he said.

"Some people seem to think that, 'well, okay, the speed limit was 100. We can go over that. The speed limit is now 110. We can go over that.' In reality, one kilometre over the speed limit is one kilometre over the speed limit. If you are going, 112 or 115, in a 110 zone, you can be pulled over and ticketed for speeding.”

Angelo Dicicco, general manager of Ontario Safety League, says the roads "have been engineered for this type of speed."

"It's incumbent upon us as the drivers at 110 km/h to maintain situational awareness around us."

Driver Louis Trudel says the change in speed hasn't changed anything on the road.

"I didn't really notice much difference. I guess the traffic is pretty good. Just driving around 115, 120, as usual, so I didn't notice anything specific, I guess, in terms of the speed limit," said Trudel.

Ron Bowdring, another driver, is happy with the new speed limit.

"So far, I found it ran smooth, I loved it," Bowdring said.

"Everybody speeds anyway, and it's just you're going to do 10 or 15 over the speed limit anyway, so why do you get a fine for something like that?"

Here is the list of 10 sections of highways across Ontario that will see the speed limit increase to 110 km/h this summer

• Hwy 401, Tilbury, extending the existing 110 km/h zone further east by 7 km
• Hwy 401 from Hwy 35/115 to Cobourg (approximately 35 km)
• Hwy 401 from Colborne to Belleville (approximately 44 km)
• Hwy 401 from Belleville to Kingston (approximately 66 km)
• Hwy 401 from Hwy 16 to Quebec boundary (approximately 107 km)
• Hwy 403 from Woodstock to Brantford (approximately 26 km)
• Hwy 403 from Brantford to Hamilton (approximately 14.5 km)
• Hwy 406 from Thorold to Welland (approximately 13 km)
• Hwy 416 from Hwy 401 to Ottawa (approximately 70 km)
• Hwy 69 from Sudbury to French River (approximately 60 km)

The Ontario government plans to increase the speed limit to 110 km/h on a section of Highway 401 between Hwy. 16 and the Quebec border. (Google Maps)