Hwy 416 Speed Limit Increasing To 110 km/h In July

Local drivers using Highway 416 will soon be able to drive a little bit faster.

The Ontario government is raising the speed limit permanently from 100 km/h to 110 km/h on the local 400-series highway, as well as nine additional sections of provincial highways in northern and southern Ontario. The change builds on the safe and successful increase to six sections of provincial highways in 2022 and aligns with posted speed limits in other jurisdictions across Canada.

“Most of Ontario’s highways were originally designed to safely accommodate speed limits of 110 km/h and the data from our changes in 2022 shows they do just that,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “These evidence-based increases are a common-sense change to make life more convenient for Ontario drivers while bringing our highway speed limits in line with other Canadian provinces.”

Starting July 12, 2024, the speed limit will be permanently raised to 110 km/h on Hwy 416 between Hwy 401 and Ottawa; Hwy 401 between Hwy 16 and the Quebec border, and other areas of Hwy 401 west of Kingston.

All highway sections were selected based on their ability to safely accommodate higher speed limits. Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have a maximum speed limit of 110 km/h, while in British Columbia, the maximum speed limit is 120 km/h.

Until 1975, Highways 400, 401, 417 and the Queen Elizabeth Way were posted at 70 mph (113 km/h) before being reduced due to the energy crisis.

Stunt driving penalties will continue to apply at 150 km/h. On the highway sections with increased speed limits, stunt driving penalties will apply at 40 km/h over the posted speed limit.