Keep Stunt Driving Off Public Roads

April 04, 2017, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

In news reports that left many people shaking their heads the OPP reported this weekend that 12 drivers were charged with Stunt Driving on highway 400 near the Barrie ONroute service area. The cars were all considered luxury cars like Lamborghinis, Porches, and Ferraris. According to police there were many reports of the cars driving well beyond the speed limits, moving erratically and weaving between cars on the road. Police take this extremely seriously as most people do not possess the driving skill to control cars at high speeds, and the public highways are not race tracks. Accidents involving serious persona injury and death are common at high speeds.

The drivers were surrounded and slowed by police SUVs and pulled over. They were all charged with stunt driving, had their licences revoked on the spot, and had the cars impounded for one week. According to the police, the speeds travelled were in excess of 150 km/hour and the driving was described as ‘dangerous and erratic’. Their lawyer claims that the group was caught at the wrong place and the wrong time, and that they weren’t going much over the speed limit. The courts will determine what the fines are. They are set to visit with a judge in June.

Their insurance companies will certainly be interested as well. A charge of stunt driving has serious implications on your car insurance rates.

All of the drivers belong to an extreme car enthusiast club called “North Face Rally’ and their website describes them as “ …dreamers, we are the ones that choose not to compromise”. They have a rally scheduled for June 2017. Let’s hope they either keep legal speeds or that they go on a track to race.

In Ontario stunt driving tickets and charges will be issued when an officer finds a driver travelling in excess of 50 km/h over the speed limit. They may also issue a stunt driving ticket for the following reasons:

• Driving at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed.
• Driving in a manner that indicates the drivers of the motor vehicles are engaged in a competition.
• Driving in a manner that indicates an intention to chase another motor vehicle.
• Driving without due care and attention, without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway or in a manner that may endanger any person by,
• Outdistancing or attempting to outdistance one or more other motor vehicles while driving at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed, or
• Repeatedly changing lanes in close proximity to other vehicles so as to advance through the ordinary flow of traffic while driving at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed.

Stunt driving can also include the following:

• Driving that indicates an intention to lift some or all of its tires from the surface of the highway, including driving a motorcycle with only one wheel in contact with the ground.
• Driving that indicates an intention to cause some or all of its tires to lose traction with the surface of the highway while turning.
• Driving that indicates an intention to spin it or cause it to circle, without maintaining control over it.
• Driving two or more motor vehicles side by side or in proximity to each other, where one of the motor vehicles occupies a lane of traffic or other portion of the highway intended for use by oncoming traffic for a period of time that is longer than is reasonably required to pass another motor vehicle.
• Driving with a person in the trunk of the motor vehicle.
• Driving while the driver is not sitting in the driver’s seat.
• Driving that indicates an intention to prevent another vehicle from passing,
• Stopping or slowing down in a manner that indicates the driver’s sole intention in stopping or slowing down is to interfere with the movement of another vehicle by cutting off its passage on the highway or to cause another vehicle to stop or slow down in circumstances where the other vehicle would not ordinarily do so,
• Driving that indicates an intention to drive, without justification, as close as possible to another vehicle, pedestrian or fixed object on or near the highway.

And finally, police can lay a stunt driving charge for incorrect left turns at traffic lights changing from red to green where the person turning left races to beat the oncoming person who is going straight.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.