Drivers travelling along the QEW between St. Catharines and Hamilton can, starting Thursday, move a little faster without breaking the law.

The Ontario government has raised the speed limit on that stretch from 100 to 110 km/h.

It's one of three provincial highways that are part of a previously announced pilot project.

Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney says the higher speed limits are in line with those in other provinces and mark a return to levels previously in effect in Ontario until 1975.

The pilot project also include stretches of Highway 402 between London and Sarnia and Highway 417 between Ottawa and the Quebec border.

The ministry will be posting enhanced signs and safety messages on the affected routes to make the public aware of the changes.

Mulroney says the pilot project will also include public consultations on the effect of the new speed limits, and members of the public can complete an online survey until Nov. 23.

Brian Patterson, President and CEO, Ontario Safety League, said that "the science tells us that although excessive speed is a factor in many crashes, under normal driving conditions and with reasonable driving attention it would have virtually no impact."