By Matt Lalande in Uncategorized on March 04, 2024
The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) is a significant historical and infrastructural piece of Ontario, Canada. Named in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the wife and royal consort of King George VI, later known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the QEW is one of the earliest divided highways in North America. It was officially opened in stages from 1937 to 1939, commemorating the royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada in 1939, marking a significant event in Canadian history.
The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) stands as one of the most trafficked highways in Ontario, witnessing an average daily traffic of nearly 200,000 vehicles in certain segments.
The 401 highway, officially known as the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway, is a critical artery in Ontario, Canada, stretching jsut over 800 kilometers from the Quebec border near Montreal to Windsor at the Detroit border. This highway circumvents the western shore of Lake Ontario, passing through several critical urban areas, including Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, and Mississauga. The highway is a vital corridor for local and international traffic, facilitating economic activities and commuting across the super populated regions it connects.
Unlike the QEW, which connects Toronto to the Niagara Region, the 401 spans the entire province. This expansive highway is notorious for its heavy traffic, which is discussed more below. It has become a focal point for discussions on road safety and accident statistics, reflecting its significant impact on regional transportation and commerce.
The busiest sections of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) are primarily located in areas in Ontario which experience heavy traffic due to both regular commuter flow and seasonal tourist influx, especially during the summer months. Also, some of the busiests areas are the intersections with other major Ontario highways – for example, Highway 420 in Niagara Falls, Highway 405 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Highway 406 in St. Catharines, the Red Hill Valley Parkway in Hamilton, as well as Highways 403 and 407 in Burlington, Highway 403 at the border of Oakville and Mississauga, and Highway 427 in Etobicoke.
In the Regional Municipality of Halton, the QEW runs together with Highway 403 under the same signage. The majority of the highway enforces a speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph), except for the stretch between Hamilton and St. Catharines where it increases to 110 km/h (68 mph).
Moreover, the QEW is a crucial economic corridor, carrying a significant portion of Canada’s trade by truck. It is part of the National Highway System. It plays a vital role in the efficient flow of goods, services, and people, supporting Ontario’s economic competitiveness by providing safe, reliable, on-time delivery of goods and services. It’s estimated that approximately 17 percent of the daily traffic on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) consists of commercial vehicles, including semi-trucks.
The highway has become so busy that great efforts to address congestion and improve traffic flow have been ongoing, with significant infrastructure projects including the widening of key sections of the QEW. For instance, projects have widened the highway from four to six lanes between Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake and from Highway 406 to the Garden City Skyway Bridge in St. Catharines. These upgrades are designed to accommodate the growing traffic volumes, which have substantially increased over the years. Summer traffic alone has grown by over 30,000 vehicles daily or 44 percent on the QEW over the past decade and is expected to rise further.
These improvements are not only aimed at reducing congestion but also at enhancing safety and ensuring the smooth operation of this significant international trade corridor, which carries approximately hundreds of millions worth of goods daily through some of Ontario’s most populated communities.
The claim that 401 is one of the busiest highways in North America was the subject of a fascinating report by CityNews in 2023. The report compared the 401 to other major highways across the United States and Mexico. The measure used to determine the busyness of a highway was the Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT), which calculated the average number of vehicles traveling on the highway each day over an entire year. This data was typically collected through electronic traffic counters, with transportation agencies updating their findings online, some annually.
It was reported that in Canada, the Toronto stretch of Highway 401 stood out as the busiest, with the most recent data from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) for 2019 showing daily averages that ranged from 314,200 vehicles in Scarborough to 386,850 vehicles in Etobicoke. The busiest segment, between Renforth Drive and Highway 427, saw an average of 450,300 vehicles daily. In contrast, Montreal’s Metropolitan Autoroute, another major Canadian highway, saw its heaviest traffic at about 167,000 vehicles per day, according to 2019 data.
Looking at Mexico, the busiest highways were found in large metropolitan areas like Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. The Secretariat of Communications and Transportation’s data indicated that even the busiest Mexican highway, a section of Mexican Federal Highway 54 in Monterrey, typically saw fewer than 100,000 vehicles per day, with the most trafficked section averaging 95,232 vehicles daily in 2019.
While there are many congested highways in the United States, the report concluded that their traffic volumes generally did not reach the levels seen on Highway 401. For example, Chicago’s Dan Ryan Expressway and Los Angeles’ 405 Freeway, despite their notoriety for heavy traffic, reported lower AADT figures than Highway 401!
The Dan Ryan Expressway saw an average of 297,940 vehicles in 2016, and the 405 Freeway had about 269,420 vehicles in L.A. County and 269,313 in Orange County per day in 2017. New York’s Long Island Expressway, the busiest in the Tri-State area, had a daily average of 224,901 vehicles in 2016, still less than the 401’s average.
This analysis confirmed that Highway 401 was indeed North America’s busiest highway, which, while not necessarily celebratory, seemingly brought a unique sense of pride to the city. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term traffic volumes on the 401 and other highways remained to be seen, with more data expected to clarify the situation in the coming years.
In Canada, the Toronto stretch of Highway 401 stands out as the busiest, with the most recent data from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) for 2019 showing daily averages ranging from 314,200 vehicles in Scarborough to 386,850 vehicles in Etobicoke.
The busiest segment, between Renforth Drive and Highway 427, saw an average of 450,300 vehicles daily. In contrast, Montreal’s Metropolitan Autoroute, another major Canadian highway, saw its heaviest traffic at about 167,000 vehicles per day, according to 2019 data.
Looking at Mexico, the busiest highways are found in large metropolitan areas like Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. The Secretariat of Communications and Transportation’s data indicates that even the busiest Mexican highway, a section of Mexican Federal Highway 54 in Monterrey, typically sees fewer than 100,000 vehicles per day, with the most trafficked section averaging 95,232 vehicles daily in 2019.
While there are many congested highways in the United States, their traffic volumes generally do not reach the levels seen on Highway 401. For example, Chicago’s Dan Ryan Expressway and Los Angeles’ 405 Freeway, despite their notoriety for heavy traffic, reported lower AADT figures than Highway 401.
The Dan Ryan Expressway saw an average of 297,940 vehicles in 2016, and the 405 Freeway had about 269,420 vehicles in L.A. County and 269,313 in Orange County per day in 2017.
New York’s Long Island Expressway, the busiest in the Tri-State area, had a daily average of 224,901 vehicles in 2016, still less than the 401’s average.
This analysis confirms that Highway 401 is North America’s busiest highway, which, while not necessarily celebratory, brings a unique sense of pride. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term traffic volumes on the 401 and other highways remains to be seen, with more data expected to clarify the situation in the coming years.
The 401 highway, a pivotal stretch of road in Ontario, Canada, is renowned for its heavy traffic, making it one of the most congested highways in the world. On average, this highway sees upwards of 500,000 vehicles daily in its busiest sections, particularly around major urban centers like Toronto.
Among these, a significant portion comprises semi trucks, with estimates suggesting that over 50,000 trucks navigate this route daily, underscoring its critical role in North American commerce.
The sheer volume of traffic, combined with its extensive network connecting major cities and the U.S. border, contributes to its notoriety for congestion.
The 401’s infrastructure, designed to accommodate a vast array of travelers and goods, is often stretched to its limits, leading to frequent slowdowns and bottlenecks. This congestion not only highlights the highway’s importance in the regional and national economy but also underscores the ongoing challenges in managing traffic flow and safety on one of the busiest highways on the globe.
The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) unfortunately experiences 1000’s of serious accidents every year, reflecting the ongoing safety challenges faced by one of Ontario’s major highways.
For example, a significant incident occurred on January 18th, 2023, when a transport truck collided with a maintenance vehicle near Ontario Street in Beamsville. The collision resulted in life-threatening injuries to a 22-year-old truck driver from Kitchener and serious injuries to a 39-year-old female worker from Oakville. The maintenance crew was repairing potholes at the time of the incident, and the crash led to the closure of Toronto-bound lanes of the QEW for nearly ten hours.
Another tragic event took place on March 31st, 2023, near Beamsville, involving a multi-vehicle collision that resulted in the death of a 10-year-old boy. The accident occurred when a vehicle rear-ended an SUV carrying two 10-year-old brothers, pushing it into another SUV. The collision caused minor injuries to the mother of the boys and the driver of the other SUV involved.
On August 20th, 2023, a fatal accident in Mississauga resulted in the death of a man and five others being hospitalized. The eastbound lanes of the QEW were briefly closed overnight but reopened the following morning.
Also in August 2023, two elderly people were killed by an impaired driver, after their car erupted in fire and was engulfed in flames.
In September 2023, two crashes occurred just south of the Burlington Skyway. One incident involved a tractor-trailer colliding with the median and catching fire. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from either collision. Another incident in December 2023 involved a three-vehicle collision at Burlington Skyway, resulting in one person being hospitalized with serious injuries and another with minor injuries.
Additionally, on September 17th, an impaired driver crashed into an active collision investigation scene on the QEW at Winston Churchill Boulevard. This incident resulted in injuries to four people, including a Ministry of Transportation worker. The driver slammed into a crash truck that was protecting the scene of a previous collision.
In October 2023, a crash in Mississauga led to the deaths of two people, with a 32-year-old man from Mississauga facing charges of dangerous driving and impaired driving causing death. Earlier, in March 2023, a 10-year-old boy was killed in a chain-reaction crash on the Niagara-bound QEW, underscoring the tragic outcomes that can result from highway collisions.
Additionally, in August 2023, a 61-year-old motorcyclist was critically injured in a crash on the QEW in Oakville, highlighting the risks faced by motorcyclists on highways.
Another tragic event occurred in October 2023 when a man was charged with impaired driving, causing death following a fiery crash on the QEW in Mississauga that resulted in the deaths of two people. This incident was particularly horrific, with two vehicles “consumed by fire,” highlighting the deadly potential of impaired driving. Traffic had been funneled into a single lane due to construction, exacerbating the situation when a vehicle reportedly entered at high speed, causing a multi-vehicle collision.
These incidents, which almost occur daily, serve as a somber reminder of the importance of highway safety, the potential consequences of impaired driving, and the need for all road users to exercise caution and responsibility. They also underscore the importance of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and prevent future tragedies on the QEW and other highways.
Due to its heavy traffic volume, including a significant proportion of commercial vehicles, accidents on Highway 401 are an ongoing daily concern for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the public.
For example, in February 2024, one driver was killed, and another was injured after a three-car crash in westbound lanes in the Durham region.
On February 4th, 2024, one person died after a multi-vehicle crash on the 401 in Whitby. The driver who caused the crash was allegedly distracted and on her phone.
On February 3rd, 2023, a fatal collision in Whitby due to alleged speeding.
In January 2024, a driver died after two tractor-trailers collided on the 401 near Ingersoll.
On January 8th 2024, a rollover crash in Whitby injured multiple people and sent one driver to the hospital.
Also, in January of 2024, a tractor-trailer jack-knifed in Whitby, causing a fiery crash and numerous injuries.
In November of 2023, a transport crash in the 401 westbound lanes between Norwich Avenue and Sweaburg Road killed the 59-year-old driver, forcing traffic to be re-routed near Woodstock.
In December of 2023, a pedestrian was struck and killed on Hwy. 401 while trying to cross the highway.
Vehicles parked on the side of the 401 highway always pose an absolute danger. On December 1st, 2023, at approximately 9:50 PM, a van collided with a parked tractor-trailer in southwest Oxford Township, causing serious injuries.
On October 24th, 2023, a woman was killed in Ajax in a tractor-trailer rollover.
Multi-vehicle crashes are quite common on the 401. Multi-vehicle crashes often delay traffic for hours on end and cause messy commutes. For example, a multi-vehicle collision caused a 6-hour delay in March 2003 along the 401 stretch close to Milton, Ontario.
Yes – in 2019, the CBC released the results of a 5-year traffic study, which revealed that statistically, Fridays are the most dangerous day to drive on Highway 401, with an average of 35 crashes occurring each Friday, the highest compared to any other day of the week.
This period, from 2011 to 2015, recorded 9,288 collisions on Fridays, according to Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation statistics.
In contrast, Sundays were the safest, with about 22 daily collisions. Overall, the highway experienced 53,279 collisions, involving over 101,196 vehicles – approximately 10,655 collisions per year.
Despite the high traffic volume, the Ministry noted that the average collision rates on Ontario freeways were relatively low, and the number of fatal collisions on Highway 401 and across the province had been trending downward for years. However, there was a slight increase in fatal and non-fatal crashes in 2014 and 2015. It was reported that, notably, more than half of the deadly collisions involved at least one tractor-trailer. While winter conditions lead to more collisions, they were typically not more deadly than accidents occurring at other times of the year, with summer months posing a higher risk of serious outcomes due to higher speeds.
Again, referring to the study above, it was reported that out of all the fatal and non-fatal crashes from 2011 to 2015, more than half of the deadly collisions involved at least one tractor-trailer.
In 2022, the OPP reported a significant increase in collisions involving transport trucks, with 2022 seeing the highest number of such incidents in over a decade (in fact – the total amount of fatal collisions in 2022 and continuing on the rise – many caused by distracted, poor and careless driving, was the highest seen in over a decade).
Of the 9,110 reported crashes involving transport trucks, which constituted 12% of all collisions, 71 were fatal.
The data from 2022 also revealed that police issued 2,858 charges related to transport-truck collisions, with the majority of these charges directed at truck drivers. However, a significant number of charges were also issued to passenger vehicle drivers, underscoring the need for education among all road users about safe driving practices around commercial vehicles, including awareness of blind spots and stopping distances.
To combat the rising trend in truck-involved crashes, the OPP and the Ministry of Transportation both participated in Operation Safe Driver Week from July 9th to 15, focusing on increased enforcement and education regarding commercial motor vehicle safety. This initiative aims to improve road safety and reduce the number of collisions involving transport trucks.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident on the 401 or QEW, the path to recovery can be daunting and filled with uncertainty. At Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers, our car accident lawyers recognize the profound impact such accidents can have on individuals and their families, both physically and emotionally, and financially.
Our team is committed to offering empathetic, thorough legal assistance to ensure you are fairly compensated. You don’t have to navigate this difficult period by yourself. Contact us in the Southern Ontario Region at 905-333-8888 or Provincewide at 1-844-525-2633 for a free consultation, and let us support you through your recovery process. Alternatively, you can email us confidentially and we will get back to you within several hours, during normal business hours.
With our specialized knowledge in accident law, particularly incidents on the 401 and QEW, we are prepared to advocate for your rights and achieve the most favorable outcome. Acting promptly in these circumstances is essential, so don’t hesitate to contact us immediately to safeguard your future and attain the justice you rightfully deserve.
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Annually, the 401 highway in Ontario experiences a significant number of semi-truck accidents, with averages fluctuating based on various factors such as weather conditions, traffic volume, and road maintenance. While specific numbers can vary year by year, it’s estimated that several hundred accidents involving semi-trucks occur, underscoring the importance of safety measures and regulations on this major thoroughfare.
The most common causes of semi-truck crashes on the 401 include driver fatigue, speeding, distracted driving, improper lane changes, and following too closely. Adverse weather conditions and mechanical failures also contribute significantly to the incidence of accidents involving semi-trucks on this busy highway.
The number of fatalities resulting from semi-truck accidents on the 401 varies annually. However, it’s reported that each year, there are dozens of fatalities linked to these incidents, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts in improving road safety, driver education, and vehicle maintenance standards.
Yes, certain sections of the 401 are more prone to semi-truck crashes, particularly areas with heavy traffic congestion, complex interchanges, and construction zones. The stretch near major urban centers like Toronto is notably high-risk due to the increased volume of vehicles, including a high percentage of commercial trucks. Efforts to identify and address these high-risk areas are continuous, with a focus on enhancing road safety for all users.
There are approximately 10,600 collisions on the 401 Annually.
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