IN October, almost 8,000 drivers in BC were still driving like it’s summer and speed limits don’t matter, the BC Highway Patrol said on Thursday.
This year’s Drive Relative to Conditions and Pedestrian Awareness campaign shows that British Columbians still have a lot of work to do to make the roads safer for pedestrians, vulnerable road users, and everyone else.
In October, BC Highway Patrol wrote speeding tickets in the following areas:
| Region | Tickets |
| Northern BC (including most communities north of 100 Mile House) | 1,486 |
| Central BC (including Merritt, Kelowna, Kamloops, Clearwater) | 1,443 |
| Kootenay region (including Revelstoke, Nelson, Cranbrook, Golden) | 1,171 |
| Vancouver Island | 1,598 |
| South Coast (including Metro Vancouver, Sea to Sky country, the Fraser Valley) | 2,167 |
| Special Traffic Operations (units working outside of a defined jurisdiction) | 23 |
| Total number of tickets | 7,888 |
“As drivers we are guilty of thinking that we are exceptional. We make excuses about why the rules should not apply to us,” says Cpl. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “But once you hit another human being, or an animal, or badly injure yourself, it’s too late to be smarter or act better.”
Drivers are reminded that posted speed limits are created for ideal, dry, clear, daytime conditions. If traffic is heavy, weather is poor, or it’s dark, you have an obligation to slow down. With the increased hazard of winter driving conditions, it’s extremely important to be sober, alert, and undistracted.
Pedestrians and other vulnerable road users are encouraged to be alert and put their phones away, wear brighter clothing with reflective piping, and obey traffic lights.
“None of us are special drivers or invulnerable pedestrians,” says McLaughlin. “The weather has turned now and it’s dark most of the time. Slow down and avoid getting a ticket or something worse. Help us create a safer and better experience on our roads.”
