Several stunt drivers, at-risk people taken off Ottawa roads

Ottawa police’s traffic escort and enforcement unit is noting an uptick of at-risk drivers in the nation’s capital.

In the last week, the team notes they have charged “multiple” people with stunt driving. In about a day’s time, there were three people caught using Ottawa’s roads as racetracks. Police also caught a person driving who had been suspended for several years.

“We tend to see elevated speeds as the temperature rises…OPS Traffic Escort officers continue to hold lead-footed drivers to account along arterial routes,” police said in a post on X.

One of those key areas is Highway 174 East, where they charged a motorcyclist for driving 140 km/h in an 80 km/h zone.

Similarly, a SUV was caught travelling 145 km/h the same day.

This stretch of the highway the limit lowers to 80 km/h because it’s a construction zone. In less than a day, police caught another driver in the area going 142 km/h near Orleans Boulevard.

All those charged with stunt driving face a licence suspension, a vehicle impound and a fine if convicted.

Officials are not just looking out for speedsters; they are also making sure “at-risk” drivers are taken off the roads.

One of those was a 37-year-old man who had been a suspended driver since 2021 for an impaired driving conviction.

Officers said they caught a black RAM truck near Knoxdale Road and Woodroffe Avenue, in Nepean. Once stopped, the driver was caught without insurance and it was discovered he was suspended from driving.

His vehicle was impounded for 45 days, police said.