Lethbridge police are reminding motorcyclists and all drivers that there is a zero-tolerance approach to high-risk and nuisance-based driving behaviours after a motorcyclist was recently ticketed for driving more than 90 km/h over the posted speed limit. Police say on June 27 around 10:30 p.m., a motorcycle officer conducting traffic enforcement observed a group of motorcycles travelling east on Scenic Drive South. The officer continued to monitor the group as they stopped for a red light at 43 Street, police say. Police say when the light turned green, the group accelerated rapidly. Police say as the officer attempted to catch up to the lead motorcycle, another rider overtook the officer at a speed exceeding 150 km/h, approximately 90 km/h over the posted speed limit. “Whenever an operator of the road decides to exceed the set speed limits, they ultimately put themselves and the public at further risk,” said Acting Sgt. Barent Goodrich. In that case, the 30-year-old driver was charged for careless driving, speeding, stunting and racing without a permit. “If they are convicted, the maximum punishment could be up to a $2,500 fine as well as a 90-day licence seizure,” Goodrich said. He says the incident is a reminder that this type of driving behaviour is not allowed. “It’s not all motorcyclists,” said Barent. “It’s the ones that decide to break the rules and take that added risk when they are driving in a negative manner.” The warning to stop the dangerous driving behaviour is directed at all motorists on the road. “Everyone sort of thinks, ‘Do as I say, not as I do,’” said Hannah Hamilton, safe communities program manager with the Alberta Motor Association (AMA). “Alberta drivers often will engage in behaviours that they would say they don’t want other people to do, and that includes risky driving behaviours, distracted driving and speeding.” Hamilton says, according to Alberta traffic collision data, the largest number of collisions happen during the summer months. “It’s nicer out,” she said. “There are more people on the roads; people may feel a bit more confident speeding because they aren’t working with ice and snow, and we also have a couple of long weekends, which historically have the largest number of collisions.” To reduce the chance of a collision, the AMA is reminding drivers to be cautious at all times, on all roads. “If it’s a route that you take every day, we call that the familiarity trap. It’s when your brain kind of shuts off because you’re used to driving the same route all the time, so maybe you’re not paying as much attention,” Hamilton said. “In those types of routes, we really just want you to check in, make sure you’re not being distracted, notice the signs around you and make driving a full-focused activity. And then maybe you’re on a road trip going to somewhere where you haven’t been before, just set up everything before you drive—your GPS and music playlist.” As the summer continues, Goodrich says members of the traffic response unit will continue to have a visible police presence during its targeted traffic enforcement projects to deter illegal driving activity. “Driving on our roadways is a privilege, not a right,” Goodrich said. “If we happen to come across some of those people who are breaking those laws, we will utilize the authority bestowed upon us to ensure that dangerous behaviour is curbed.”
