Two young drivers charged after 127 km/h street racing on Strandherd Drive, police say

Ottawa police say officers watched an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old racing on Strandherd Drive at Beatrice Drive last weekend at 127 km/h in a 70 km/h zone, according to a CTV News Ottawa report. Both drivers held G2 licences and were charged with stunt driving and racing a motor vehicle.

The stop came during the Residents Matter enforcement blitz, which ran Friday and Saturday nights and targeted speeding, street racing and aggressive driving. CTV reports that police issued 11 speeding tickets and laid four stunt-driving charges over the two nights. All four drivers charged with stunt driving received 30-day licence suspensions and 14-day vehicle impoundments.

Strandherd is posted at 70 km/h through this stretch and carries steady traffic turning in and out of the plazas and side streets on either side. If you drive it, leave extra room before pulling out or changing lanes, because a vehicle approaching well above the limit closes the gap faster than it looks. If you cross it on foot or by bike, use the signalled crossings and wait for the walk signal rather than judging a gap between vehicles.