With the weather warming up and the roads becoming clear, Alberta RCMP are reminding motorists of the dangers of speeding.
Even as driving conditions improve, it’s important not to exceed posted speed limits. Unsafe speeds increase the risk of collision and serious injury for all road users in any conditions.
Last year, Alberta RCMP issued 48,600 speeding tickets in RCMP jurisdiction. In April alone, 4,283 speeding violations were handed out. Meanwhile, there were 9,419 charges for aggressive and dangerous driving.
According to Alberta Transportation, approximately one in four fatal collisions involve unsafe speeds, and more than half of these fatal collisions occur in rural areas. According to Transport Canada, 27% of fatalities and 19% of serious injuries on the road involve speeding.
Avoid a speeding ticket, or worse a collision, by following the below tips:
- Leave early. Give yourself extra time to reach your destination. Avoid using unsafe speeds—they increase the risk of collision and serious injury.
- Follow posted speed limits, especially in school, playground, and construction zones. These areas often have high pedestrian traffic—slow down to keep everyone safe.
- Remember, speeding isn’t just surpassing legal speed limits, but also driving too fast for weather, road, and traffic conditions. Driving a safe speed allows you to stop quickly in the event of an unexpected traffic hazard.
- If you are a passenger in a speeding vehicle, speak up. Don’t let speeding be the norm.
“Speeding is one of the biggest threats to traffic safety, and unfortunately, it’s a common traffic violation among drivers,” says Sgt. Darrin Turnbull, Alberta RCMP Traffic. “Stay safe this “speeding season” by respecting the posted speed limit, even when you’re in a hurry.”
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