BMW driver clocked going 175 km/h on QEW was 'late for school:' police

A 22-year-old driver who told the OPP he was going 175 km/h on the QEW because he was late for school ended up being much later after his car was impounded and his licence suspended for seven days.

The Mississauga man was charged with stunt driving after he was caught speeding near Lincoln, east of Hamilton, around 10 a.m. Monday, according to Niagara OPP Const. Rob Knight.

"There are very, very few excuses under law to be driving that speed," Knight explained. "It's a fact the higher you go over the speed limit the more chances there are, if you get into a collision, of having serious or catastrophic injuries."

Knight said mid-morning is a busy time to be on the highway — meaning the speed the driver was travelling in his 2008 BMW was even more "irresponsible."

Second stunt driver caught hours later

Knight said another speeder was stopped doing 145 km/h in an 80 km/h-zone on Highway 58 in Thorold just hours later.

The 27-year-old St. Catharines man's licence was also suspended and his 2004 Mazda impounded for seven days.

"It's an 80 km/h zone for a reason, there's curves in the highway … and a fair amount of traffic," said Knight.

The officer said the two stunt driving charges are part of a trend provincial police in the Niagara area have noticed as the warm weather returns.

"The roads are drier, the speeds are going up … unfortunately we're seeing people driving at these really irresponsible speeds."