Entering and Exiting Safely
Entering a highway requires matching the speed of live traffic before you leave the acceleration lane.
- Merging Speed: You must aim to reach 100–110 km/h in the acceleration lane. Merging significantly slower than traffic is considered dangerous and is an automatic failure on a G road test.
- Exiting: Use your signal early and only begin to slow down once you have fully entered the deceleration lane.
Speed Limits and Lane Discipline
Below are some rules on speed and lane discipline when driving on Ontario highways.
- 110 km/h Limits: Ontario has permanently raised the speed limit to 110 km/h on most sections of the 401, 403, 406, 416, and 69.
- Keep Right: By law, slower traffic must stay in the right-hand lane. The left lane is strictly for passing; staying there without overtaking can result in a fine of up to $1,000.
- Stunt Driving: On 110 km/h highways, the “Stunt Driving” threshold is 150 km/h or 40 km/h over the limit.
High-Speed Safety Practices
Highway driving requires total concentration to avoid high-speed collisions. Below are some of the best practices to follow when driving at high speeds.
- Maintain Safe Following Distance. At highway speeds, you should keep at least a 2–3 second gap in dry conditions and 4–6 seconds in rain or snow. Higher speeds dramatically increase braking distance.
- Avoid Sudden Lane Changes. Signal early, check blind spots carefully, and move gradually between lanes. Abrupt movements at high speeds are a leading cause of multi-vehicle collisions.
- Don’t overtake snowplows. It is illegal and highly dangerous to pass a snowplow in formation (echelon plowing) on highways with limits of 80 km/h or higher. Maintain at least 10 car lengths of space behind active plows.
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions
Ontario’s weather can be unpredictable, with heavy rain, snow, and ice being common occurrences. When driving in adverse weather conditions:
- Reduce your speed and increase following distance.
- Use your low-beam headlights to improve visibility.
- Avoid sudden braking or acceleration.
- Be extra cautious on bridges and overpasses, as they tend to freeze first.
- Steer gently and avoid yanking the steering wheel.
- Outfit your vehicle with winter tires if you plan on driving on snowy roads.
- Maintain a safe distance from snowplows and avoid passing them to prevent blowing snow from obscuring your sightlines.
If visibility becomes severely limited or road conditions become hazardous, consider pulling over at a safe location, such as a rest area or service center.
Handling Emergencies and Breakdowns
Despite your best efforts, emergencies and breakdowns can still occur. If you have a flat tire or your vehicle breaks down, safely pull over to the shoulder and activate your hazard lights. If possible, exit the highway at the next available exit or service area.
If you’re involved in a collision or witness one, call 911 immediately if there are injuries or if the vehicles are blocking traffic. If the vehicles are drivable and no one is injured, move to a safe location and exchange insurance information with the other driver/s.
Key Advice from MyChoice
- New drivers should practice driving in low-traffic areas before attempting to drive on a busy highway.
- Make sure that you have a valid Ontario car insurance policy before driving on a highway to avoid penalties or other legal issues.