Ontario teacher allegedly caught driving 95 km/h in safety zone on first day of school
An Ontario teacher has been busted for allegedly driving nearly double the speed limit in a safety zone on the first day of school.
According to Durham police, the teacher was caught driving 95 km/h in a 50 km/h zone Tuesday around 8:30 a.m. in Oshawa.
"First stunt driver of the day (is) a teacher," Durham police said in a tweet. "Numerous charges laid."
Durham police did not specify where the incident occurred.
Anyone caught driving 40 km/h or more above the speed limit, where the speed limit is set at less than 80 km/h, will face stunt driving charges in Ontario.
Drivers also face a 30-day roadside driver’s licence suspension, as well as a 14-day vehicle impoundment, if pulled over by police for stunt driving.
The maximum fine for stunt driving in Ontario is $10,000. You could also face up to six months in prison.
Drivers are being urged to keep a close eye on the roads as kids return to the classroom over the next few days.
There has been a significant increase in traffic volume over the past few months as people return to the office following years of working from home due to the pandemic, Ontario provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said. The number of cars on the street will continue to rise now othat students are returning to school in September.
"The commute time you had in the past or maybe this spring … is likely going to be different than it is today," he told CP24 on Tuesday morning. "So give yourself extra time."
Schmidt warned that kids will either be excited to return to the classroom or there may be tears—either way it’s important to keep an extra eye on the road when in school zones.
“They’re looking forward to one thing and it’s not necessarily the traffic, so just as a driver be extra careful.”
The OPP is also issuing a reminder to drivers that they should be aware of school buses and that ihey can be fined for not stopping when their lights are flashing.
School buses in Ontario are using an updated two-colour flashing light system this year. Lights will flash amber when a bus is preparing to stop to give nearby drivers a warning that they should be slowing down.
Once the bus stops a red light will flash. This means that approaching drivers must also stop in order to allow students to either get on or get off the vehicle.
Schmidt said that drivers who fail to stop could be fined up to $400.
The Toronto Police Service is also launching their back-to-school campaign, targeting drivers in school zones who may be speeding or driving either aggressively or while distracted. They will also be targeting individuals who are parked illegally in those areas.
“It is paramount that motorists consider the safety of our most vulnerable road users; school children, pedestrians, and cyclists, when travelling on our roads,” police said in a news release.
According to an April survey conducted on behalf of the CAA South Central Ontario, 78 per cent of Ontario parents report seeing unsafe driving behaviours in school zones, including speeding, stopping in undesignated areas and double parking.
About 37 per cent of respondents said they consider the roads around their child’s school to be very safe.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.