Erratic driving: what it looks like and when to report it

Erratic driving means driving you can't predict: weaving, sudden braking, speeding up and slowing down, or turning without signalling. Ontario law doesn't use "erratic driving" as an offence. Police usually charge it as careless driving, stunt driving, or impaired or dangerous driving.

What it looks like

• Weaving within a lane, or across several
• Cutting across lanes to make an exit at the last second
• Hard braking with nothing ahead
• Racing up behind cars, then dropping back
• Drifting onto the shoulder or into oncoming traffic

The cause might be impairment, a phone, fatigue or a medical emergency. You don't need to know which one to report it.

How Ontario law treats it

• Careless driving (section 130 of the Highway Traffic Act) is driving without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for others. It carries 6 demerit points, a fine of $400 to $2,000, and a possible licence suspension of up to two years. When someone is hurt or killed, the fine can reach $50,000.
• Stunt driving includes going 40 km/h or more over the limit where the limit is under 80 km/h, 50 km/h or more over anywhere else, and racing. The driver loses their licence on the spot for 30 days and the car is impounded for 14 days, before any conviction.
• Impaired or dangerous driving is charged under the Criminal Code and can lead to a criminal record.

When to report it

If the driving is putting people at risk right now, pull over and call 911. If it's over and no one was hurt, report it to your local police service's non-emergency line or online reporting tool. Our guide on how to report dangerous driving in Ontario lists them.

Have dashcam video? Save the original. You can also post it on BadDriver.ca, where other drivers can look up the plate.