Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) stopped a driver in a rental car for speeding 178 km/h on Highway 417 in Ottawa Friday night, according to a post on social media.
Incident details
The driver was clocked traveling at 178 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the highway, which is a major east-west route through Ottawa. The OPP shared a photo of the rental vehicle and the speed reading on its X account.
Police did not release the driver's name or specific charges laid, but said the vehicle was impounded and the driver's license was suspended for seven days, as per Ontario's street racing and stunt driving laws.
Impact and enforcement
Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, driving 50 km/h or more over the speed limit on a road with a posted limit of 100 km/h constitutes stunt driving. Penalties include an immediate 30-day license suspension and 14-day vehicle impoundment upon conviction, plus fines up to $10,000 and possible jail time.
"Speeding is one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatal collisions on our highways," said OPP in a statement. "Our officers will continue to enforce speed limits and remove dangerous drivers from the road."
