Stunt driving up nearly 200% during pandemic: Toronto cops

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These drivers obviously missed out on the Stay Home memo.

While the city has seen a dramatic drop in traffic volumes, Toronto Police report that from March 15 to March 31, there was a 35% increase in speeding tickets and an almost 200% increase in stunt driving compared to the same period last year.

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“The Toronto Police Service continues to proactively enforce traffic laws in high-collision areas. Our officers will be focused on stopping those drivers who are speeding or stunt driving and making our streets unsafe for other users,” Chief Mark Saunders said.

Beginning this week, Toronto Police’s Vision Zero Enforcement Team will begin rotating in daily shifts across the city and keeping an eye out for drivers who are speeding or stunt driving.

All red light cameras in the city are active and tickets are being issued to motorists who disobey traffic signals, police said.

Traffic Services Det.-Const. Scott Matthews said between April 3 to 6, police arrested six impaired drivers, four operating a vehicle with 80 mg of alcohol in their blood, and three people refused to provide a breath sample, including an alleged stunt driver.

On April 2, in a seven-hour period, 11 vehicles were impounded under stunt driving legislation.

The highest speed among those caught was a 24-year-old woman allegedly driving an Audi R8 doing 195 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.

A 47-year-old man in a Volkswagen was reportedly going 119 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.

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“Taking advantage of low traffic volumes by speeding or stunt driving is not only illegal but threatens the lives of those around you and places an unnecessary pressure on our health-care system,” Mayor John Tory said.

Health officials continue to urge people to stay home as much as possible to stop the spread of the virus and say drivers should stay off the roads as much as possible and only travel for essential reasons.

jyuen@postmedia.com