A driver recently caught going 130 km/h on River Road was given a ticket and had his car impounded for seven days.
While the incident took place a few months ago, Richmond RCMP said this is an example of where traffic enforcement possibly saved a life.
Richmond RCMP are taking part in province-wide enforcement this month against speeding and high-risk driving.
On March 4, Const. Cole Vander Helm was patrolling the 21000 block of River Road, in east Richmond, when a blue Toyota Aristo passed by “at a high rate of speed,” crossing over a double solid line.
Vander Helm chased him down and noted he was going 130 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.
The police officer said this stretch of River Road is narrow with only one lane in each direction.
“There are several residences and industrial businesses located along the roadway with lots of traffic on it, including large commercial vehicles, pulling out onto the roadway with plenty of blind spots and tight corners,” Vander Helm said.
“While tragedy was avoided in this situation with the driver charged and removed from the road, it could have ended differently. If someone was pulling out of a driveway and expecting traffic to be moving at the 50 km/h speed limit, by the time they begin to pull onto the roadway, someone going 130 km/h would collide with them.”
It’s possible that stopping the driver saved his life or someone else’s, Vander Helm added.
“I can only hope that the charges and loss of vehicle wakes him up to the seriousness of his driving choices,” he added. “This is why we do what we do.”
“Speeding is one of the top contributing factors in fatal crashes,” said Sgt. Eric Baskette, NCO-in-Charge of the Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit.
“Driving within the speed limit and adjusting to road and weather conditions helps keep everyone safer on the road.”
Richmond RCMP urged all drivers to slow down, leave phones alone and stay focused on the road.
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