I've driven a small part of the QEW (going to Mississauga), and driven the 401 before (a couple times anyway), as well as driving the 400 all the way down there to get to those. The 401 is considered one of the worst highways in the entire world. It is actually worse than many huge highways in the US.
The 401 and QEW are entirely different beasts than the 400. Thy are EXTREMELY crowded except late at night, and in most cases during the day you can't do more than about 60 km/h on them anyway.
I've also driven down town Toronto (Dundass, Bloor, Queen, etc.) and THAT is scary driving. Compared the the occasional asshole you see in somewhere like midland or Barrie it's scary shit. I've seen cars move into the right lane without signaling (for a block that doesn't happen to have cars down the entire right line parked) step on it, and drive about 70 km/h for the block, and then slam on the brakes, and (without signaling again) cut someone off before they smack into a parked car. I've been honked at angrily for not cutting people off when I make a left. I've had someone go completely around me, cut me off, and make the left, cutting someone else off that was going down the street. Not to mention there's always construction, people run across the roads all the time with no warning, and there are the most fucked up rules about making turns I've ever seen. There are literally roads that say "No left turns between 7AM and 6PM mon-fri, no right turns except on holidays" and fucked up crap like that. I think I've pretty much seen the worst driving this country has to offer, and survived it. I take it better than my friends, too, who usually get really pissed, either at the huge traffic, or the asshole drivers.
I drive a lot differently in situations like those than I do on the 400 and in Midland and Barrie.
But I do usually keep up with the general speed. If I were to be the asshole driving slow in Toronto, I'd be WAY more likely to be hit, maybe even just to spite me, than I would if I just drive like everyone else.
My statement is that matching general traffic speed is more important than the speed limit (and the fast lane is not 'general'), but past that, the speed limit is the final authority. I've driven on the QEW and parts of 401, so I'm pretty sure I know what kind of traffic you're talking about, and I've still never gone past 120 kph or so.
As a general tip, driving safely is more important than anything you have to worry about being late for. If you get somewhere late, make a note to leave earlier next time. It's not worth "saving your ass" by speeding if you run the risk of getting expensive speeding tickets and, over time, your driving privileges revoked. Please keep some perspective on "arriving at class a few minutes late" versus "2000 kg of flying death at 130 kph".
I definitely agree with you. However, some of my teachers will absolutely NOT let you in if you are even 1 minute late (as in, they lock the doors), and if you miss that class, you may end up really far behind. And in all honesty, I think that I'm a lot safer than most other people at a comparable speed on the highway. I always give the person in front of me way more space than anyone else I see. Too many people now tailgate and ride right up someone's ass. I've been tempted to just slam on the brakes and let them rear end me, just to spite them. Any time there's a car in front of me, I've got more than enough space between me and them, no matter what speed I'm going (and the faster I go, the more space I give them). And I almost never pass on the right of someone, except if they are doing something like going 100 in the fast lane and refuse to move over.
I'm not trying to say I'm some miracle driver, but I know I don't have some of the bad habits that separate the horrible drivers (who shouldn't even have a license) from those who are acceptably bad.
tl;dr: I've driven in much worse than the 400, and can say that the 400 isn't nearly that bad. I agree that safety is important, so I'm nowhere near as bad as those assholes who are a crash waiting to happen, even if I'm not perfect.
