Street racing and reckless driving that have plagued the streets surrounding Ridgeway Plaza in Mississauga’s west end may soon be brought to a halt after the area’s city councillor secured swift approval for a package of urgent safety measures. Ward 8 Councillor and Deputy Mayor Matt Mahoney confirmed that up to eight speed humps—four on Platinum Drive and four on Odyssey Drive—are either already installed or in the process of being put in place. These two roads, located beside the plaza at Eglinton Avenue West and Ridgeway Drive, have become notorious for street racing since the plaza opened in 2022. The area has also been a frequent target for Peel Regional Police enforcement due to ongoing issues with stunt driving, speeding, and late-night gatherings that have generated numerous public complaints.
Mahoney introduced an emergency motion at the July 30 city council meeting calling for traffic calming devices to be installed on Platinum Drive, Odyssey Drive, and certain driveway access points to Ridgeway Plaza without delay. The motion, passed unanimously, was driven by the urgency to address what Mahoney described as “dangerous and reckless driving” and to enhance safety for both residents and visitors. He noted that Peel police have issued hundreds of charges over the past two years for offences in and around the plaza, ranging from street racing and speeding to unnecessary noise.
The push for action also comes in the wake of a fatal collision on August 16, 2024, at Ridgeway Drive and Odyssey Drive, where a motorcyclist lost his life in a high-speed crash involving another vehicle. Enforcement efforts have been aggressive, with police laying 530 charges in August and September 2024 alone, during weekend blitzes targeting stunt driving, speeding, loud mufflers, and illegal window tinting. Earlier this summer, a social media video showing three cars swerving into oncoming traffic near the plaza led to four arrests, with investigators linking the incident to a May 25 car meet on Platinum Drive.
Mahoney expressed confidence that the combination of speed humps, traffic control bollards, and other calming measures will significantly improve public safety and put an end to the street racing problem that has plagued the community for years.