'So dangerous': Car caught on video driving on sidewalk to beat traffic

A Toronto resident is sounding the alarm about traffic congestion and unsafe driving around the Eglinton LRT construction in a Twitter video that has been viewed thousands of times. 

The video, which was posted Thursday by Matthew Slutsky, shows a motorist driving on the sidewalk while traffic was at a standstill on Old Forest Hill Road just before Glenarden Road.

The intersection is located a few blocks away from West Preparatory Junior Public School and Eglinton Avenue West. 

"This is a very common occurrence in front of my house," Slutsky wrote. 

"Kids are going to get killed. This is so unsafe."

Resident concerns

Though Slutsky posted the video, it was actually filmed by resident Michael Betel, who has lived in the neighbourhood for the last 14 years. 

"This is, by far, the worst traffic we have ever seen," he said.

The congestion began when Metrolinx started construction nearby on the Eglinton LRT about five years ago, according to Betel. 

Other residents agreed, saying they have no doubt the Eglinton LRT construction is to blame for the congestion.

"It's all from the [construction]," said resident Marlene Orenbach.

Metrolinx has asked police to send officers whenever they are available to patrol the area, but will be looking at additional ways to deal with congestion in the neighbourhood.

"Construction is never an excuse for choosing to drive dangerously and choosing to break the law," Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said in an email.

Meanwhile, Orenbach says she is concerned about the safety of pedestrians in the area after having at least one close call with a driver herself.

"There's lots of little kids in the neighbourhood," she said. "We've complained to the police department, I haven't seen a police officer here."

Betel says he immediately filed a complaint with police following the incident, but has not heard back from them. 

CBC Toronto reached out to Toronto Police and they confirmed a traffic officer will be looking into the complaint. 

Mayor responds

"There's just no excuse for that sort of thing," said Toronto Mayor John Tory, referring to the video.

Tory made his comments at a news conference on Friday, where the city launched a public education campaign to promote road safety in the fall and winter months.

"Anybody would know from the most basic driver's handbook, driver's course or common sense that cars shouldn't drive on sidewalks," said Tory.

In addition to the campaign, Toronto Police will begin a weeklong road safety blitz on Monday. Police say officers will target the most dangerous violations including speeding and impaired, aggressive and distracted driving. 

"People just have to sort of remember that we're in this together, that every step they take to do something that's dangerous ... is putting someone else's life in danger," said Tory.