Close to 150 vehicles impounded for excessive speeding on B.C. long weekend

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Officers in B.C. impounded close to 150 vehicles for excessive speeding over the Victoria Day long weekend, according to B.C. RCMP.

One driver was caught twice for excessive speeding, first for going 130 km/h in a residential zone, then four hours later, and in a different vehicle, for driving over 160 km/h along Highway 1 in Chilliwack.

That driver has been referred to RoadSafetyBC and may face a lengthy driving prohibition, according to RCMP.

While there were no fatal collisions on provincial highways over the long weekend, B.C. Traffic Services noticed more excessive speeding than usual.

Prior to the weekend, RCMP Supt. Holly Turton, with traffic services, announced that speed enforcement would be returning to pre-COVID-19 levels.

“Last week, I stated that this spike in excessive speed violations is concerning and unacceptable,” Turton says in a release. “That sentiment has not changed and I am disappointed that there are drivers who continue to choose to break the law and put themselves and others at risk. This is not a game. Our officers will continue to demonstrate their commitment to road safety. There is no excuse, including COVID-19, for this kind of high-risk driving behaviour anywhere in our province.”

While there were no fatal collisions on provincial highways over the long weekend, #BCRCMP Traffic Services says there were a number of excessive speed offences – ranging from tickets to impounded vehicles, and in at least one case, a 90-day driving prohibition b/c of impairment.

— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) May 19, 2020

In the Lower Mainland, 19 excessive speed violations were recorded on the weekend, among other infractions, including taking an unsafe commercial vehicle out of service.

Sea to Sky Traffic Services in Squamish impounded four vehicles for excessive speeding violations, while one driver was given a 90-day driving prohibition for being impaired.

In Greater Victoria, police issued 295 tickets written over two days, including 259 for speeding. Of the latter, seven were for excessive speeding.

And in Merritt, officers stopped a vehicle on Highway 5 with four occupants — none wearing seatbelts — for travelling in excess of 75 km/h over the posted speed limit.

The fine for excessive speeding in B.C. is $368 to $483, according to ICBC.

According to provincial statistics, 114 people die, on average, every year in B.C. in crashes involving high-risk driving.