“Thankfully, there were no fatalities this long weekend,” says Acting Staff Sgt. Gary Lamont. “But drivers still need to slow down and obey the speed limit. These speeding vehicles can put the drivers, other motorists and pedestrians in harm’s way. There is no need for speed.”
Over a four-day period, from Friday, May 16 to Monday, May 19, 2014, EPS Traffic Section issued 1,574 tickets – that does not include tickets issued by any patrol members in the city.
On Saturday, May 17, 2014, EPS members ticketed many ‘high flyers’ on Anthony Henday, just west of Manning Drive. The area is currently marked at 70km/h in a construction zone. Three separate vehicles were caught travelling 123 km/h, 126 km/h and 134 km/h.
On Monday, May 19, 2014, police caught a vehicle travelling 142 km/h on Whitemud Drive which has a posted speed limit of 80 km/h. On Groat Road and Emily Murphy Park Road, another vehicle was speeding 51 km/h over the posted limit.
EPS officers caught a vehicle speeding 72 km/h over the posted limit in the area of 97 Street and 120 Avenue. That vehicle was travelling 132 km/h in a 60km/h zone. The driver of the vehicle had outstanding driving related warrants and was charged with dangerous driving.
Another vehicle was stopped at 91 Street and 23 Avenue because it was speeding at 124 km/h in a 70km/h zone. Another driver that was stopped by police at the same location had 12 outstanding driving suspensions dating back to 1988. He was charged with an additional criminal driving suspension, obstructing a peace officer, personation with intent to obtain advantage.
In addition to the dangerous speeders on our roadways, there were also 25 impaired driving arrests made by the Edmonton Police Service over the four-day long weekend. Citizens are doing their part to ensure the roadways are safe – 13 of those impaired driving arrests stemmed from Curb the Danger calls.
Curb the Danger is a citizen-run program. If a citizen suspects an impaired driver, they are encouraged to call 9-1-1 and report the last direction of travel of the suspect vehicle, make of vehicle and a license plate. Annually, between 38% and 45% of vehicle intercepts result in an impaired driving charge or 24-hour license suspension. If police are unable to intercept the suspect vehicle, a letter is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle stating their vehicle was reported to Curb the Danger by a concerned citizen.
“We can all do our part to prevent serious injury collisions and even death – slow down and get there safely,” says Lamont.