american driving in canada

U.S. tourist warns Americans 'do not drive' in Ontario

A U.S. tourist in the Toronto area couldn't contain his shock in a viral clip recorded on an Ontario highway, and warned other potential American visitors, "Do not drive in Canada."

Stephen Bailey, known on Instagram as @7thgen_coupe, has been documenting the differences between Toronto and his home state of North Carolina while visiting his long-distance girlfriend north of the border. 

Few things in Ontario have struck him, it seems, quite like a trip along the province's notoriously hectic 400-series highways, which left him racing to warn his fellow Americans, "If you can't drive, do not drive in Canada."

In the viral video, captured on Highway 403 in Oakville, the driver is astonished by fellow road users, exclaiming, "Everybody be flying, bro. That's all they do around here."

american driving in canada

Still from the viral clip of Stephen Bailey on an Ontario highway. Instagram.

The video comes just days after Ontario increased speed limits from 100 km/h to 110 km/h on nearly 90 per cent of its system, but it's nothing new for drivers in the province.

"First time experiencing the express vs collector lanes on the 401 is just a whole new level of driving anxiety," said one local resident.

"Lmao come out that left lane if u ain't goin 130km/h +," warned another.

One commenter joked, "WW3 has been happening for a while it's just called the 401."

It seems local highway driving didn't dissuade the visitor from checking out other local hotspots like Downsview Park Merchants Market, Sankofa Square, and Kensington Market. He even tried a McCain Deep n' Delicious cake, and rode a TTC streetcar and subway train to get the full 416 experience.

Lead photo by

@7thgen_coupe


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