First significant snowfall to hit GTA this afternoon

Winter is coming. The first significant snowfall of the season is expected to hit the GTA Monday afternoon, and give commuters a rude reminder that we still live in Canada.

The storm is expected to roll into the GTA at around 2:00pm, just in time for the drive home. Snow will continue overnight and taper off early Tuesday morning.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement, stating that amounts of 5-10cm are expected for most of Southern Ontario, with some localized areas seeing as much as 15cm.

The storm will result in poor winter driving conditions on untreated roads.

Commuters in the GTA can expect significantly slower trip than usual for a Monday as they head home this afternoon, with heavier than normal volume across most major routes. Transit surface routes will also likely be impacted.

Police are reminding motorists to slow down and drive to the conditions. Things like all-wheel drive and snow tires can certainly help make navigating winter roads a bit easier, but they're not magic.

Winter driving takes patience. Reaction time and stopping distance play a large role on snow covered or icy roads. You can help make our roads safer this winter! #2018SafetyCountdown ❄️ pic.twitter.com/vEbS2T1yoy

— HRPS Burlington (@HRPSBurl) December 10, 2017

Cold temperatures and flurries are expected to stick around the GTA for the next week. So on the bright side of things, there's a good chance we could see a white Christmas this year.

Fatal collision shuts down 401 in Etobicoke

A fatal collision closed a section of the westbound 401 in Etobicoke early Monday morning.

At approximately 5:20am, police received numerous calls of a car stopped in a live lane of the highway near Martin Grove. Shortly after, the vehicle was involved in a serious collision with a tractor-trailer.

When crews arrived on scene, the driver of the car was pronounced dead. The driver of the truck was uninjured.

“We are still trying to investigate and determine exactly what happened prior to the collision that claimed the life of the driver of this car,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told local media.

Schmidt called the damage to the car "absolutely devistating", and asked anybody who witnessed the collision, or what led up to it, to contact Toronto OPP.

“We are appealing for anyone else who may have driven through this area between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. that may have seen a vehicle either in a live lane disabled or any circumstances."

The westbound lanes of the 401 remained closed through the morning commute, with all traffic being diverted off the highway at Martin Grove. The backup stretched as far as Allen road while police continued to investigate. No time frame was given as to when the highway would reopen.

Fatal collision:#Hwy401 wb at Martin Grove. WB lanes to be closed at Martin Grove, truck and car involved. pic.twitter.com/mfA4bkBfzS

— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) December 11, 2017

Source: CP24

Overnight lane closures on Gardiner begin Monday

The City of Toronto will be closing some lanes on the Gardiner tonight for maintenance work.

One westbound lane will be shut down this evening, as well as on November 14th, 27th, and 28th, from 11:00pm until 5:00am.

One Eastbound lane will be closed from 11:00pm until 5:00am on November 15th, 21st, 24th, and 30th.

In the past, the City has closed the Gardiner two weekends a year for routine maintenance. However, drivers have complained about how difficult this makes trips into the city, especially if there's a major event happening.

Mayor John Tory said that data shows the Gardiner is much less frequently traveled overnight than on weekends, so the city hopes this new approach will minimize disruptions.

King Street Transit Pilot begins this week

The City of Toronto is launching a new pilot project to speed up transit along King Street.

The project, which kicked off Sunday, will prioritize streetcar traffic along King between Bathurst and Jarvis. Private vehicles will face restrictions, though local traffic access will be maintained.

King Street is the busiest surface transit route in Toronto, moving more than 65,000 riders daily. However, streetcars along this stretch have faced slow travel times and are often seen travelling in packs. City officials believe this is due to the high volume of private vehicles also using this route. About 20,000 vehicles use King on a daily basis.

"King Street is a critical downtown spine, connecting neighbourhoods, the largest employment centre in the entire country, and diverse urban forms and uses,"said Councillor Joe Cressy. 

"As in so many other areas – community facilities, new parkland, and more – we must both catch up with growth, and plan for the future. The time for putting people and transit first along this important corridor is now, and the King Street Transit Pilot is our opportunity."

Divers, cyclists, and pedestrians are being advised to use King Street with caution as new transit signs and stops go up. Private vehicles will not be able to access King and must turn up either Bathurst or Jarvis. Exceptions are being made for local traffic, taxis, and cyclists. Police will be out for the first two weeks educating drivers and enforcing the new road restrictions.

City officials did not mention the expected traffic impact on neighboring roads such as Queen and Front.

No end date to the pilot was provided to media.

List of Traffic Changes as part of the King Pilot
• Vehicles travelling eastbound on King Street must turn left or right at Bathurst Street. Vehicles travelling westbound must turn left or right at Jarvis Street.
• Through vehicular traffic should use other parallel east-west streets: Richmond, Adelaide, Wellington, Front, Queens Quay, Lake Shore and the Gardiner Expressway, and then access King Street via north-south streets.
• TTC vehicles, City of Toronto emergency and maintenance vehicles, and cyclists are allowed to travel through the pilot area at all times of the day.
• Space for cyclists is provided in the curb lane but no dedicated bike lanes are provided.
• Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., City-licensed taxis are allowed to travel straight through the pilot area. At other times, taxis must follow the same rules as other traffic.
• There is no on-street parking on King Street in the pilot area. On-street parking is available on some nearby streets and there are several off-street parking lots near King Street.
• While travelling on King Street, left turns at signalized intersections (turning off King Street) are not allowed.
• Current turning restrictions for accessing King Street will remain in place (where left turns onto King Street were previously permitted, they will continue to be permitted).
• Existing permitted movements and restrictions on north-south streets will continue after the launch of the King Street Transit Pilot. For example, vehicle traffic on all north-south streets in the pilot area (such as Bathurst, Spadina, John, University and Yonge) can still cross King Street.

All your GTA Santa Claus Parades

As is our annual tradition here at The Toronto Traffic Guy, we're once again stoked for all the Santa Claus Parades happening around the city this holiday season. And once again, I'm a little slow off the mark getting this article up. November has a way of sneaking up on you, doesn't it.

If you're looking to meet the big guy himself, here's your complete list of where he'll be over the next few weeks. A lot of volunteers work hard making these parades happen, so go out and support them. Don't forget you can also catch most of these on either RogersTV and YourTV, so check your local listings.

November 12th

Santa Fest in Maple @ 2:00pm

• Major Mackenzie Drive from Canada's Wonderland to Vaughan City Hall

November 18th

Newmarket Santa Claus Parade @ 11:00am

• Eagle from Lorne to Main
• Main from Water St. to Ontario St.

Acton Santa Claus Parade @ 11:00am

• Hwy 7 downtown

Hamilton Santa Claus Parade @ 4:30pm

• Bay from Stewart to York.
• York from Bay to James N
• James from Wilson/York to Strachan
• Strachan to Harbor Front

Georgetown Santa Claus Parade @ 5:00pm

• Guelph St from St. Sinclair to Charles
• Charles from Guelph St. to Fairgrounds

Brampton Santa Claus Parade @ 5:00pm

• Sproule from Ken Whillians to Main
• Main from Sproule to Elgin Drive

Richmond Hill Santa Claus Parade @ 6:00pm

• Leslie from William F. Bell Parkway to Performance Drive

Oshawa Santa's Parade of Lights

• Starts at King and Stevenson
• East along King to Simcoe
• North on Simcoe to Bond
• West on Bond to Stevenson

November 19th

Oakville Santa Claus Parade @ 9:00am

• Lakeshore East from Reynolds to Kerr
• Kerr from Lakeshore West to Stewart St.
• Stewart from Kerr to Felan Ave.

Toronto Santa Claus Parade @ 12:30pm

• Bloor from Christie Pits to Avenue
• Avenue/University from Bloor to Wellington
• Wellington from University to Yonge
• Yonge from Wellington to Front
• Fromt from Yonge to St. Lawrence Market/Jarvis

Milton Santa Claus Parade @ 1:30pm

• Main from Scott to GO Station

November 25th

Pickering Santa Claus Parade @ 10:00am

• Glenna Road from Dixie to Pickering Parkway

Markham Santa Claus Parade @ 11:00am

• Hwy 7 from Main to Markham Museum

Ajax Santa Claus Parade of Lights @ 6:00pm

• Starting at Bayly and Mackenzie Avenue
• Travels east along Bayly then north on Harwood, ending at Ajax Town Hall

Santa Under the Stars Parade Aurora @ 6:00pm

• Yonge from Orchard Heights to Murray Drive

Flamborough/Waterdown Santa Claus Parade @ 6:30pm

• Hamilton St N from Rockhaven to Dundas
• Dundas from Hamilton to Main
• Main from Dundas to Parkside
• Parkside from Main to Hamilton

November 26th

Weston Santa Claus Parade @ 2:00pm

• Weston from Church to Sidney Belsey Crescent

December 2nd

Etobicoke Santa Claus Parade @ 10:00am

• Lake Shore West from Dwight Ave to Longbranch

Whitby Santa Claus Parade @ 10:00am

• Along Brock Street, exact route TBA

Bolton Santa Claus Parade @ TBA

• Queen Street, downtown

December 3rd

Mississauga Santa Claus Parade @ 12:30pm 

• Motorway Boulevard from Glen Erin to Woodchester

Note: The Streetsville parade was cancelled due to lack of support. New parade is at the Erin Mills Auto Mall. 

Burlington Santa Claus Parade @ 2:00pm

• Route TBA but likely same as last year
• Guelph Line from Prospect to New Street
• New Street from Guelph to Brant
• Brant from New Street to Caroline

Arctic blast to create some hazardous driving conditions north of city

An arctic blast from the Prairies is expected to bring winter-like conditions to Southern Ontario this Thursday evening.

Rain is expected to start mid-afternoon, just in time for the commute.

Temperatures will then begin to drop rapidly across the city, with rain changing to flurries in the early evening hours.

A snow squall watch is currently in effect for a wide area ranging from Sarnia to Durham. Icy winds blowing across Lake Huron and Georgian Bay could bring up to 15cm in some spots, making driving conditions treacherous.

GTA residents can expect flurries to accumulate about 2cm when all is said and done. However, with the first snowfall of the year, a large volume of accidents is practically a given. Police are already reminding drivers to slow down and drive to the conditions.

We knew it had to come eventually ❄️ Pack extra patience for your commute tomorrow, drive according to conditions, use full headlight systems, leave extra braking space and dont forget your emergency kit for your car 🚗 #DriveSafe^ao https://t.co/YPCXZULpPb

— HRPS Burlington (@HRPSBurl) November 8, 2017

Along with the snows, the GTA could also see some record breaking low temperatures across the region. The mercury is expected to dip to -10 in the early morning hours Friday, potentially beating the previous record of -8.9 set back in 1973. 

Just what the heck is a turbocharger

If you're shopping for a vehicle today, you've probably seen turbochargers being featured in more cars. Automakers are positioning them as a miracle device that can not only improve engine performance, but fuel economy as well. It may sounds like BS, but it isn't. There are some pretty huge benefits to using a turbo in modern engines. So just how do they accomplish these amazing feats of engineering in the first place.

Turbochargers, along with their ancestor the supercharger, have been around for a long time. Both of these are known as "forced induction" devices.

In a standard car engine, it sucks air in, mixes it with fuel, burns it in the engine, then spits the exhaust out the back. A lot of energy and heat is wasted in that exhaust, but what if we could harness it to boost power? That's exactly what a turbo does.

A turbocharger has two chambers. One is connected to the exhaust. As the hot gasses leave the engine, they spin a turbine. The other chamber has a blower that's connected to the car's air intake. The turbine drives the blower to pump large amounts of high pressure air into the engine. If you've ever heard a diesel truck make that characteristic "whoosh" when they start moving, that's the sound of the turbocharger's turbine spinning up.

With more air entering the engine, the fuel has more oxygen. Since the gasoline burns more completely, this can greatly boost efficiency, resulting in more power with less fuel consumption from smaller engines.

So why aren't all cars equipped with turbochargers?

For starters, turbo equipped cars cost more money than regular "naturally aspirated" engines. Additionally, adding more moving parts means greater likelihood of something failing. Turbochargers can also be easily damaged if they're revved too high, too quickly, or get bogged down in the wrong gear.

Some drivers also might not like what auto enthusiasts call "turbo lag". Like a jet engine, the turbine takes a bit to "spool up" from idle, resulting in a delay between hitting the gas and your engine producing its full power. Small turbocharged engines may feel a but sluggish off the line before pasting you back into your seat. Naturally aspirated engines don't have this problem.

Despite the drawbacks, turbos aren't going away anytime soon. Automakers are being pushed to increase fuel economy, and turbochargers are a cheap, tried and true way to get better mileage and sporty power from smaller engines. You might want to consider one for your next car if you want the most boost with the least juice.

Photo by SFoskett, via Wikimedia

What happened to steering column gear shifts

If you're of a certain age, you probably remember shifting gears with a big stick on the side of your steering wheel. From the 1950's up until the early 90s, they were nearly ubiquitous on American made cars. Then they just sort of vanished.

So what happened?

Steering column mounted shifters first started appearing in the post war car boom for a couple of reasons. One was purely for convenience.

Most manual transmission vehicles at the time only had three gears. The gears were laid out in an H patter, with first and reverse being on one side, and second and third on the opposite. Since the latter two were the most common, a driver could change gears without taking their hands off the wheel by just flicking the lever. The newfangled automatic cars simply followed along.

Around the same time, family cars were getting larger. Unlike today, most sedans could seat six people on a pair of bench seats. Three people in the front, and another three in the rear. A floor mounted shifter would get in the way of the front-middle passenger, and vice versa. So it was moved to the steering column, within easy reach of the driver.

Things started to change through the 1970s and 80s with the introduction of foreign cars to the US market. Vehicles from Europe and Japan had comfortable bucket seats, a stylish centre console, and the brand new concept of driver arm rests.

The sporty layout proved a hit with drivers. Suddenly the steering column mounted shifter looked old fashioned and a bit drab. Plus the more complex mechanics involved were hitting automaker's bottom lines. So the lever was instead connected directly to the transmission, mounted in the centre console of the new 5-seaters.

There were a few holdouts of course. Most automatic trucks still feature their gear shift on the steering column, while some cars have race inspired paddle shifters. However, the once popular wheel stick has now disappeared from modern American vehicles. Replaced by newer, arguably worse designs.

Volkswagen introduces concept for self-driving car

With self-driving tech being all the rage right now, you can forgive Volkswagen for wanting to get on the bandwagon. However, their first concept might make you question the faculties of their designers.

The Sedric is a fully-autonomous vehicle, which according to VW, is not supposed to have any styling. It looks less like a conventional car, and more like an microbus that's been put through the crusher.

But to Volkswagen, its the inside that counts. Sedric features a lounge like interior that's described as open and airy. It features wood flooring and even a little planting box near the rear window. The windshield also doubles as an OLED screen to display information or augmented reality experiences.

The whole thing is controlled by a remote described as "the Button", which allows you to control the vehicle with your voice. LIDAR sensors help guide the vehicle through its surroundings to ensure a safe drive.

Despite its questionable appearance, Volkswagen says it was designed that way on purpose. Due to its all-electric drive train, the Sedric doesn't need to feature things like an elongated hood or overhangs.

While not exactly the prettiest concept car, the somewhat whimsical Sedric is certainly packed full of tech that will make even the Jetsons jealous. Still, I'd rather my car look like a car rather than a high end fridge on wheel.

Source: Autoblog
Image courtesy of Volkswagen

Fuel spill shuts down part of Hwy 9 closed in Orangeville

A "significant" fuel spill has a section of Hwy 9 closed east of Orangeville this morning.

Ontario Provincial Police responded to a call around 2:26am that a truck carrying gasoline had rolled at Hwy and Airport road.

OPP Const. Stephanie Hammond told reporters that it was a "significant fuel spill". At least 23,000 litres of gas had been dumped on the roadway, with some having leaked into the ditches and catch basins.

The Ministry of the Environment and Hazmat teams were on scene early Tuesday to oversee the cleanup.

“We have a pumper truck that is down there presently obviously to pump out what fuel they can visibly see as well as digging out the ditches to remove the soil that’s got the fuel in it as well,” says Const. Hammond.

Highway 9 is currently closed between Airport Road and Mono-Adjala Townline.

Police expect the clean up operation to take several hours, with the road not expected to reopen until late Tuesday afternoon at the earliest. Since the collision site is in a low lying area, damage to the environment is expected to be contained.

No injuries were reported following the incident. Police are investigating the causing of the collision, but speed does not appear to be a factor.

Hwy 9 is currently closed between Airport Road and Mono-Adjala Townline due to a "significant" fuel spill

Police seeking witnesses in weekend Milton crash that left teen critically injured

Halton Police are seeking witnesses to a single vehicle crash Sunday morning that left a Milton teen critically injured.

At around 2:19am on March 5th, police responded to a call that a Mazda, travelling eastbound, had left the roadway on Britannia, just west of Hwy 25. According to officials, the car had gone into a ditch, colliding with several trees before coming to a rest back on the road.

A 17-year-old female passenger in the rear seat suffered critical injuries, and was rushed to Hamilton General Hospital. She is currently listed in critical but stable condition.

The driver, a 22-year-old Mississauga man, and 17-year-old passenger in the front seat both suffered minor injuries. They were sent to Milton District Hospital, and have since been released.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, however alcohol and road conditions have been ruled out as factors.

Witnesses are asked to call the Halton Police Collision Reconstruction Unit at 905-825-4747, ext. 5065.

.@HaltonMedics207 transport female to #Toronto trauma center after serious single vehicle collision on Britannia Rd in #MiltonON pic.twitter.com/maWOuSWaqq

— Andrew Collins (@ACollinsPhoto) March 5, 2017

Where to get free transit this New Year's Eve

It's almost 2017. As you head out to party, don't forget to plan your safe ride home. Here's all the GTA transit services who will you be offering you a free ride on New Year's Eve.

GO Transit

GO will be offering free service on all routes after 7:00pm. They will be running a regular Saturday schedule, with special late trips being offered on the Lakeshore, Milton, Kitchener, Barrie, and Stouffville lines. Click here for details.

TTC

Take a free ride on the Rocket from 7:00pm to 7:00am, whether you're taking the bus, streetcar, or subway. Subway service sill be extended to 4:00am to get you home safely, and overnight Blue Night service will run until the beginning of subway service on New Year's Day. PRESTO users should not tap their cards on New Year's Eve.

YRT

York Region Transit and VIVA will be offering starting at 7:00pm until the last bus of the day. Head over to their website for their full extended service list.

Mississauga MiWay

The city of Mississauga will be running free trips from 7:00pm to 4:00am on a Saturday schedule with extended evening service. Grab full details here.

Durham Transit

New this year, DRT will be offering free service until 3:00am. Check out the full list of extended service here.

Brampton Transit

Travelling around B-town this NYE, you an ride on Zum for free after 7:00pm. Grab the full extended service schedule here.

Oakville Transit

Ride for free around the old Oak starting at 7:00pm until 3:30am. Additional late night train meet service will be departing the Oakville GO Station at 2:30 and 3:30am.

Hamilton Transit

The Hammer will be offering free bus service after 6:00pm on most routes.

Burlington Transit

Unfortunately, Burlington will not be offering free service this NYE. However, they will be offering extended service until 2:00am on select routes. See schedules for details.

Milton Transit

Milton still has not confirmed its transit schedule for New Year Eve, though they have stated there will be no service on New Year's Day. Unfortunately, it looks like they will not be offering free or extended service this year. Stay tuned to their Twitter feed for updates.

Taxi & Uber

Of course, taxis will not be free. Beck is planning to be very busy, so expect extended waits. Uber is warning riders to expect the highest surge prices between midnight and 3:00am. So transit is probably your better bet. Hotel is another option, but many rooms will likely be booked out already. But a friend's couch is always free.

Truck crash shuts down westbound 401

A collision has shut down a portion of the 401 this afternoon.

Shortly before 1:00pm police to reports that a truck had collided with a bridge in the westbound express lanes at the 400.

When they arrived on scene, crews discovered a dump truck had left its box up, and had become wedged under the bridge.

All westbound express lanes remain closed at this hour. Cleanup continues, but police say they are unsure when the highway will reopen. 

The westbound collector lanes are open, but traffic is backed up as far as Bayview. In town routes are also heavier than usual. The 407 is currently the best alternate.

UPDATE:COLLISION: #Hwy401 WB Express lanes remain CLOSED just after Keele St (Basket weave) due to a collision. Collector lanes remain open

— OPP GTA Traffic (@OPP_GTATraffic) December 29, 2016

All your GTA Santa Claus Parades

I'm a bit late off the gun with the Christmas season this year. Hard to believe we're already almost halfway through November.

If you're looking to boost the holiday spirit, here's a full list of Santa Claus parades happening around the GTA, along with routes and road closures. If I've missed one, mention it in the comments and I'll add it to the list.

A lot of hard working volunteers put months of effort into creating the magic, so get out, support them, and have a great time. Don't forget you can also catch most of the parades on either Rogers TV or Cogeco TV. Check your local listings.

November 19th, 2016

Oakville Santa Claus Parade @ 9:00am

• Lakeshore from Allen to Kerr
• Kerr from Lakeshore to Stewart
• Stewart from Kerr to Maurice Drive
• Felan Avenue from Stewart to Rebecca
• Rebecca Street from Dorval to Forsythe
• Robinson Street from Navy to Allan

Newmarket Santa Claus Parade @ 11:00am

• Starts at Lorne and Eagle
• Travels east along Eagle to Main
• North on Main, ending at Ontario Street

Acton Santa Claus Parade @ 11:00am

• Hwy 7, downtown Acton

Hamilton Santa Claus Parade @ 4:30pm

• Starts at Main and Queen
• East along Main to John
• North on John to King
• West on King to Bay
• Ends on Bay at FirstOntario Centre

Georgetown Santa Claus Parade @ 5:00pm

• Starts at Guelph St & Sinclair, travels along Guelph to Charles.
• Up Charles Street to Fairgrounds

Brampton Santa Claus Parade @ 5:00pm

• Starts Ken Williams Drive & Sproule, continues along Sproule to Main.
• Down Main St/Hwy 10, ending at Elgin Drive. 

Richmond Hill Santa Claus Parade @ 6:00pm

• Leslie Street from 19th Avenue to Major Mackenzie. 

Oshawa Santa's Parade of Lights @ 6:00pm

• Starts at King and Stevenson
• East along King to Simcone
• North on Simcoe to Bond
• West on Bond to Stevenson

November 20th, 2016

Toronto Santa Claus Parade @ 12:30pm

• Parade Starts at Christie Pits and Travels along Bloor to Avenue
• Down Avenue Bloor to Wellington
• Along Wellington from University to Jarvis
• Ends at St. Lawrence Market

Milton Santa Claus Parade @ 1:30pm

• Starts at Main & Scott Blvd
• Continues along Main Street to ending at Milton GO Station. 

November 25th, 2016

Markham Santa Claus Parade @ 11:00am

• Markham Road between Hwy 7 and Bur Oak Ave.

November 26th, 2016

Pickering Santa Claus Parade @ 10:00am

• Starting at Vaughan Willard Public School
• Travels east along Glenanna Road between Dixie and Pickering Parkway.

Ajax Santa Claus Parade @ 6:00pm

• Starting at Bayly and Mackenzie Avenue
• Travels east along Bayly then north on Harwood, ending at Ajax Town Hall

Santa Under the Stars Parade Aurora @ 6:00pm

• Yonge from St. John's Sideroad to Orchard Heights
• Yonge from St. John's to Wellington 
• Old Yonge Street from St. John's to Twelve Oaks Drive
• Yonge from Orchard Heights to Industrial Parkway South
• Englehard Drive from Edward to Industrial Parkway

Flamborough/Waterdown Santa Claus Parade @ 6:30pm

• Starts on Hamilton Street at Rockhaven
• South on Hamilton to Dundas
• East on Dundas to Main
• North on Main to Parkside Drive
• West on Parkside, ending at Hamilton Street

November 27th, 2016

Streetsville Santa Claus Parade @ 1:00pm

• Queen Street, downtown Streetsville

Santa Fest in Maple Parade @ 2:00pm

• Major Mackenzie from the 400/Canada's Wonderland to Vaughan City Hall, east of Keele.

Weston Santa Claus Parade @ 2:00pm

• Starts at Weston and Church
• Heads south on Weston ending at Sidney Besley Cres. 

December 3rd, 2016

Etobicoke Lakeshore Christmas Parade @ 10:00am

• Starts at Dwight Avenue, and continues along Lake Shore Blvd West

Dec 3rd: Whitby Santa Claus Parade @ 10:00am

• Route TBA

Dec 4th: Burlington Santa Claus Parade @ 2:00pm

• Starts at Prospect Street and Guelph Line
• South on Guelph to New Street
• West on New Street to Brant
• North on Brant, ending at Caroline Street

Dec 3rd: Bolton Santa Claus Parade @ TBA

• Parade route TBA

Deadliest Labour Day weekend in 20 years, OPP

This was the deadliest Labour Day weekend in 20 years according to OPP.

Fourteen people died on provincially patrolled highways over the long weekend. This includes single vehicle crash on Hwy 17 near Wawa, which claimed four lives early Monday morning. The vehicle hit a rock cut before catching fire. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the collision.

Police have also released statistics for their distracted driving blitz, and they're not good.

800 charges were laid despite an aggressive campaign to get motorists to put their phones down. That brings total distracted driving charges laid this year up to 8,800.

OPP are reminding motorists that distracted drivers are twice as likely to get into a collision than even impaired drivers.

"While both of these driving behaviours are equally threatening to the safety of road users, this latest data has the OPP calling for a heightened awareness of the prevalence of distracted drivers and the risks they pose on our roads. The OPP is also calling on Ontarians to develop a similar level of public intolerance of these dangerous drivers that exists of impaired drivers."

Failure to use turn signals more dangerous than texting, study

Driver's who refuse to use their turn signal are twice as likely to get into accidents than those who drive distracted. 

That's according to new data from Society of Automotive Engineers, which stated that failure to signal causes 2-million collisions per year.

The study found drivers in the United States use their turn signals only half the time when changing lanes, and a 75% of the time when making a turn. 

Engineers are recommending that authorities need to crack down on repeated offenders. They also suggested that new cars should be equipped with a warning system to remind driver.

Source: CBS Philadelphia 

Gardiner to close this weekend for Spring maintenance

The Gardiner Expressway is set to shut down this weekend for its annual Spring checkup.

The highway will be CLOSED in both directions from Carlaw to the 427 starting Friday, May 13th at 11:00pm. It is not expected to reopen until Monday at 5:00am, just in time for the morning commute.

With the Toronto FC in town and a potential Raptors game planned for this weekend, this will mean significant delays for those heading downtown.

Drivers can expect Lake Shore to fill up quickly. With other alternate routes slow at the best of times, transit will definitely be the better option.

Crews shut down the Gardiner twice annually to perform routine maintenance without having to worry about traffic safety. However, the city has faced criticism in the past for failing to coordinate highway closures with major events.

Camero driver caught speeding down Vancouver sidewalk

Pedestrians jumped out of the way after a red Chevrolet Camero convertible was spotted travelling along the sidewalk near Hornby and Dunsmuir in the city's downtown.

Surveillance video caught the tail end of the incident, showing a brave bystander trying to confront the driver. The car is then seen tearing off into traffic. 

Fortunately nobody was injured or killed. Police say they are looking for the driver but do not have a suspect at this time. 

Anyone with information is being asked to call Vancouver Police at 604-717-9974.

Source: AutoBlog.ca

Volkswagen to buy back emissions cheating vehicles, sources say

Volkswagen is expected to buy back 500,000 vehicles which used a defeat-device to cheat emissions tests.

Quoting unnamed sources, Reuters reports the company is expected to make the announcement official when them meet with a US federal judge later today.

The buyback is expected to involve Volkswagen Clean Diesel vehicles with 2.0L engines sold since 2009. This includes the popular Jetta, Golf, and Audi A3 models. Vehicles with larger 3.0L diesels will not be included.

Volkswagen may also offer to repair affected vehicles if US regulators approve of a proposed fix. Owners will have two years to decide whether they want to sell back their vehicles or get them repaired.

The German automaker admitted last year they had been using a device to falsify diesel emissions tests. The vehicles in question will activate their full emissions control system only if they detect they're plugged into testing equipment. During normal driving, the effectiveness of the control system is greatly reduced. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says this exposed people to potentially harmful pollutants.

Volkswagen is still dealing with 500 civil law suits surrounding the issue. Their compensation fund is expected to top more than $1 billion USD on top of the cost of buying back the vehicles. It is unclear how much each owner might receive.


Source: Reuters

Mitsubishi caught cheating fuel economy tests

Mitsubishi Motors has admitted they cheated efficiency tests to overstate the fuel economy of 625,000 vehicles.

The Japanese automaker's tomfoolery was outted by Nissan, a sales partner in its minicar venture.

According to Bloomberg, Mitsubishi modified the weight of cars during testing, as well as used inaccurate tire and air resistance numbers in computer models.

These tests overstated fuel economy between 5 and 10 percent.

Most of the effected vehicles are Kei style cars exclusive to the Japanese market.

Mitsubishi has halted sales and production of the eK Wagon, eK Space, as well as the Nissan badged Dayz and Dayz Roox. 157,000 Mitsubishi cars and 468,000 Nissan cars are involved. A Nissan spokesperson said that sales will not resume until the two companies hold talks regarding compensation.

The fuel economy violations may result in Mitsubishi having to pay back government tax for the vehicles. Mitsubishi's shares fell 15% on the announcement.

Mitsubishi is the latest automaker to come under increased scrutiny for fudging environmental performance numbers. Volkswagen was implicated last year for rigging their diesel vehicles to cheat US emissions tests.

Source: Bloomberg, Engadget
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