TORONTO, Ont. — Excessive speeding should carry the same consequences as drinking and driving, OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley tells local media.

“I remember when speeds of 160 km-h and higher were a big deal but now it’s almost an everyday thing,” Woolley says of the 400-series highways around the GTA.

As the OPP prepares for this weekend’s annual Canada Day holiday highway crackdown, Woolley thinks the province should consider treating excessive speeders more like impaired drivers.

“I would suggest it’s time for the province to look at expanding the Administrative Licence Suspension (ALS) program to include excessive speeders and those charged with other serious offences such as careless driving,” he adds.

Under the ALS program, motorists automatically have their driving licences suspended for 90 days if they are caught driving under the influence. The suspension is separate from any criminal charges the driver faces in court.

More than 120,000 ALS suspensions have been imposed since the program began in November 1996.

“I think we need something like that for drivers who get caught travelling at speeds of 50 km-h (or more) over the speed limit.”