--- title: "Toronto Drivers Are U-Turning on the Highway to Skirt Traffic" description: "Drivers in Toronto have been pulling U-turns in the middle of Highway 401 to avoid incredibly dense traffic." date: "2023-08-06" modified: "2023-08-06" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/toronto-drivers-are-u-turning-on-the-highway-to-skirt-traffic" categories: - "News" --- # Toronto Drivers Are U-Turning on the Highway to Skirt Traffic ![]() *401\_da\_sarpanch | Twitter* When you think of impossibly dense, [mind-destroying traffic](), you probably think of cities like Los Angeles, Manhattan, and London. However, Toronto's Highway 401 is right up there with the worst of them and its traffic can get so bad that some drivers are willing to take dangerously drastic measures to escape it. In a recent *Twitter* video, reported by [*BlogTO*](), several Torontonians were caught making U-turns in the middle of the highway to avoid traffic. In the video, you can see drivers on the 401 Express, just before exit 369, making a U-turn around a barrier, which sent them into oncoming [traffic](). They then made another U-turn, around a second barrier, to put them in the correct direction of traffic and into collector lane traffic, so they could get off the exit. https://twitter.com/401_da_sarpanch/status/1687388068284715008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1687388068284715008%7Ctwgr%5E93a8ef80e8ed8225fc9c76499f1094374ea6e17c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogto.com%2Fcity%2F2023%2F08%2Fdrivers-dangerous-u-turns-escape-highway-401-traffic-toronto%2F Obviously, that's a pretty terrible idea. Sure, traffic can be rough, especially if you're late to work or an important family event. But what's rougher is a head-on collision with a car headed in the opposite direction. You can see cars on the right side of the highway, having to avoid the U-turners, and it's incredibly dangerous for everyone involved. This isn't the first time drivers went to drastic measures to avoid Highway 401 traffic, though. A few months back, a[ *TikTok* video]() of drivers literally driving cutting across a grass hill, like they're Indiana Jones, to escape the 401's gridlock. https://www.tiktok.com/@oxtailpapi/video/7222122580495453445 Naturally, both improvised exits are highly illegal and videos such as these are likely going to have Toronto police on higher alert for future drivers following suit. So if you're watching these videos and getting any ideas, you might want to think twice. Not only because you'll get busted by the police but also because being ten minutes early isn't worth risking your life dodging oncoming cars. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()