Police forces across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are joining forces to tackle the escalating problem of dangerous driving and illegal street racing. The collaborative enforcement campaign, known as Project ERASE (Eliminating Racing Activities on Streets Everywhere), aims to curb these dangerous activities, which have become increasingly prevalent and hazardous in recent years.
Law enforcement agencies from Mississauga, Brampton, Halton, Toronto, and beyond will officially kick off this year’s Project ERASE at a press conference on Thursday morning at Exhibition Place in Toronto. This initiative will see Peel Regional Police working alongside their counterparts from Toronto, Halton, Hamilton, York, and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to enhance enforcement efforts over the coming months.
The campaign, running from now until October, will focus on identifying and prosecuting stunt drivers and street racers, with a particular emphasis on known hotspots in industrial areas where these activities are most common. Stunt driving in Ontario is defined by several criteria, including traveling at 50 km/h or more over the speed limit where the posted limit is above 80 km/h, 40 km/h or more over where the limit is 80 km/h or less, or a speed of 150 km/h or more on any road or highway.
Last year’s ERASE campaign in Peel resulted in 783 stunt driving charges against illegal street racers and other dangerous drivers in Mississauga and Brampton. Despite these efforts, illegal street racing continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.
“Street racing has no boundaries, and police services across the GTA are committed to working collaboratively to reduce serious injury and death on area roads,” Toronto Police stated in a news release. Peel police echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that street racing is an illegal and dangerous activity that endangers the lives of community members.
Project ERASE aims to change aggressive driving behavior through education, strategic enforcement, and modifying social behavior. Police are also encouraging the public to report dangerous driving. Those who witness aggressive driving or street racing can contact police at 905-453-3311 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. Additionally, driving complaints can be filed through the Road Watch portal on the Peel police website.