Victoria – For the first time in at least six years, the Victoria Day long weekend in British Columbia saw zero road fatalities — a milestone celebrated by BC Highway Patrol. However, authorities say dangerous driving remains a major concern.
Throughout the long weekend, officers issued over 1,900 speeding tickets and impounded 79 vehicles for excessive speeding. The enforcement was part of May’s High Risk Driving and Motorcycle Awareness Campaigns, which saw more than 9,600 speeding tickets issued province-wide.
Breakdown by region:
- South Coast/Lower Mainland: 2,500+ tickets, 122 impounds.
- Central/Okanagan: 2,200+ tickets, 94 impounds.
- Vancouver Island: 1,500+ tickets, 53 impounds.
- Kootenays: 1,200+ tickets, 66 impounds
- Northern B.C.: 1,900+ tickets, 68 impounds.
Notable cases include a driver caught at 191 km/h near Golden and a learner motorcyclist in Burnaby clocked at 152 km/h in a 90 zone.
“We’re pleased there were no deaths, but reckless driving continues to be a serious issue,” said Supt. Mike Coyle of BC Highway Patrol.