Toronto Getting There By Road

An extensive network of secondary highways (designated by two or three digits, such as Highway 35 and Highway 118) and motorways (400-series highways, such as Highway 401) covers the Province of Ontario. The speed limit on secondary highways is 80kph (50mph). On 400-series highways it is 100kph (62mph). Traffic drives on the right. The minimum driving age in Ontario is 16 years. Proof of insurance is compulsory. North American and European visitors may use national driving licences, while visitors from other countries are often required to carry an International Driving Permit as well. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08%. Seat belts must be worn at all times.

The Canadian Automobile Association - CAA (tel: (416) 221 4300 or 1 800 268 3750; website: www.caa.ca) provides a breakdown service throughout Canada and has partnership agreements with various motoring organisations, such as the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Emergency breakdown service: CAA: (tel: (416) 222 5222).

Routes to the city: Toronto is served by a number of 400-series highways. Highway 401 bisects the city north of the city centre, connecting with London and Windsor to the west and Montreal to the east. Detroit is reached via Windsor. Further north, a toll motorway, Highway 407, operates as a northern corridor around the city. The QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) runs along the lakefront from Hamilton and Niagara Falls to downtown Toronto. Buffalo is reached via Niagara Falls. North-south routes include Highway 400, running from Parry Sound to the city's west end, and Highway 404, running from the suburb of Newmarket to the city's east end, becoming the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) as it nears downtown Toronto.

Approximate driving times to Toronto: From Niagara Falls - 1 hour 30 minutes; Buffalo - 2 hours; Detroit - 4 hours 15 minutes; Montreal - 6 hours. Delays at border crossings can add significant time to trips to and from the United States.

Coach services: A number of private companies operate scheduled services to and from cities throughout Canada and the USA, including Calgary, Montreal, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Operators include Greyhound Canada (tel: 1 800 661 8747; website: www.greyhound.ca), Coach Canada/Trentway-Wagar (tel: 1 800 461 7661; website: www.coachcanada.com), Ontario Northland (tel: 1 800 461 8558; website: www.ontarionorthland.ca) and Can-ar Coach Service (tel: (905) 738 2290 or 1 800 387 7097; website: www.can-arcoach.com). The main terminus for all of these companies is the Toronto Coach Terminal, 610 Bay Street (tel: (416) 393 7911), which has bar and restaurant facilities, luggage lockers and traveller's aid services.