Oak Bay police say a driver was issued a violation ticket after they were clocked going 116 km/h in a 40 km/h zone notorious for speeders.
Around 7:44 p.m. Saturday, May 11, a police officer was conducting speed enforcement on Beach Drive, near Newport Avenue, when they spotted a northbound vehicle travelling “well above the posted speed limit.”
According to Oak Bay police in a news release, “A LiDAR was used to capture the speed of the vehicle, and it was noted to be travelling 116km/h. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was identified as a 32-year-old man.”
They say the man was issued a $483 violation ticket for excessive speed, and his vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.
READ ALSO:
- Teen driving double the speed limit caught with fake licence in Oak Bay
- Oak Bay speeders asked to hit the brakes as safety concerns rise
Two days prior, on May 9, an officer was stationed along the same stretch of Beach Drive, a 40 km/h zone, when they heard “a loud engine roar and observed a vehicle northbound that was travelling well above the posted speed limit.”
The officers used a LiDAR to capture the vehicle’s speed, which was 96 km/h, say police. “A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was identified as a 19-year-old male with a Novice Class 7 driver’s licence.”
The teen was issued a $368 ticket for excessive speed, and, similar to the May 11 incident, his vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.
‘A major problem,’ says police sergeant
Sgt. Jason Jewkes with Oak Bay Police tells CHEK News that speeding along Beach Drive is an ongoing issue.
“Very, very dangerous,” said Jewkes.
“There are a ton of pedestrians, a ton of cyclists. It’s a major problem and very dangerous.”
Under the Motor Vehicle Act, excessive speeding is considered driving 40-60 km/h over the posted speed limit. Driving faster than that results in higher fines. Along with fines and vehicle impoundment, drivers also get demerit points.
“The faster you go, the reaction time slows down. So if there is a deer running across the road or a pedestrian comes out of nowhere, then you have no time to react at that speed,” added Jewkes.
Story continues below
In 2023, Oak Bay police ticketed 48 drivers for excessive speeding. So far this year, they’ve stopped 13 drivers just on this short section of Beach Drive next to the Victoria Golf Club.
Police say drivers are getting caught at all hours, including afternoons and evenings, which is prime time for golfers who have to cross the road twice while playing.
“I think a lot of the time, you can hear them constantly. I think the police officers are here during the day. The worst time is probably the night,” said Abby Watterson, who lives nearby.
“I would say it’s pretty mostly on the weekends more than the weekdays,” added local Soleil Watterson.
Speaking with CHEK News in November 2023, incoming Oak Bay Police chief Julie Chanin said the department was ramping up enforcement in the area to mitigate safety concerns.
“The faster you go, the more property damage, injury and potentially death,” she added at the time.
According to ICBC, B.C.-wide police data from 2018-2022 shows 84 people, on average, die in speed-related crashes every year, while 2,168 people are injured.
“Speeding is the top contributing factor to car crash fatalities in B.C.,” says ICBC.
“So slow down and give yourself extra time to get to your destination. It’s not worth the risk to yourself, and to others.”
Drive safe this May long weekend: ICBC
In a news release Wednesday, ICBC is encouraging drivers to slow down and stay safe this May long weekend. It says people should give themselves lots of driving time.
Over the upcoming long weekend, 60 people, on average, are injured in 236 crashes on Vancouver Island every year, the corporation says. Across B.C., meanwhile, three people are killed and 455 are injured, based on the data from 2018-2022.
“Speed is a top contributing factor in these crashes,” adds ICBC.
“Police will be focused on speeding through targeted enforcement this long weekend in support of this month’s campaign.”
In April, drivers were urged to watch for motorcyclists as the weather warms.
Ethan Morneau
