It was the safest May long weekend in years with no fatalities on B.C. roads, however, hundreds of speeding tickets were issued and dozens of vehicles were impounded, according to the B.C. Highway Patrol.
In contrast, there were three fatalities over the long weekend in 2024.
All told, 1,900 speeding tickets were issued and 79 vehicles were impounded during the 2025 May long weekend, based on BCHP data.
"We had a lot of positive public feedback about the impact of BC Highway Patrol’s high-visibility enforcement, and we’re very happy to do our part to reduce deaths on our roads," said Superintendent Mike Coyle of BC Highway Patrol. "We still find too many examples of irresponsible driving."
In addition to the long weekend, the BCHP had been conducting a High Risk Driving and Motorcycle Awareness Campaign for the month of May, which saw 9,600 speeding tickets issued across the province, 1,200 of which were in the Kootenay region.
On May 17, a driver on Highway 3/95 in the East Kootenays was stopped doing 166 km/h in a 100 zone. The driver was also impaired, and received a 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition, an excessive speed ticket, and had their vehicle impounded for seven days.
On May 18, a driver blew a warn on an Approved Screening Device (ASD) on Highway 21 near Creston and received a three-day driving suspension. Her husband came to pick her but he did not pass the ASD and received a 24-hour suspension. Both were picked up by their parents.
On the week of May 12, a Tesla Model S was stopped doing 191 km/h in a 100 zone on Highway 1 near Golden. This was the 24-year-old Alberta driver’s third excessive speed ticket in two years. He received a five-month driving prohibition, an excessive speeding ticket ($483), a 7-day minimum impound, and a notice to the Government of Alberta for a licence suspension there.
With the Summer Impaired Driving Campaign right around the corner, Superintendent Coyle has a message for everyone getting behind the wheel.
"Refocus and take safe driving more seriously," Coyle said. "The heat of summer will bring a lot more traffic on BC Highways."
