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Richmond
2025-05-06 09:06 PDT
Richmond RCMP is ramping up enforcement against speeding and high-risk driving this May as part of a province-wide campaign targeting dangerous driving.
May has been designated High-Risk Driving Awareness Month across British Columbia. Richmond RCMP’s Road Safety Unit (RSU) will focus enforcement efforts on drivers who exceed speed limits, drive too fast for conditions, or engage in dangerous behaviours that increase the risk of collision.
View larger image: Blue Toyota loaded onto flat bed tow truck at the side of the road
Speeding is one of the top contributing factors in fatal crashes, Says Sergeant 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.
Speeding is one of the top contributing factors in fatal crashes,
Driving within the speed limit and adjusting to road and weather conditions helps keep everyone safer on the road.
To highlight the importance of enforcement efforts, one RSU officer shared a recent example from the field.
On March 4, 2025 I was patrolling the 21000 block of River Road when a blue Toyota Aristo drove past me at a high rate of speed, recounts Constable Cole Vander Helm. I activated my emergency equipment and managed to stop the vehicle after witnessing it cross into the oncoming lane over a double solid line. The driver, who was driving 130 KM/hr in a 50 KM/hr zone, was ticketed for excessive speed and illegal pass on roadway, and received a 7-day vehicle impoundment.Cst. Vander Helm continues, This stretch of East River Road is narrow, consisting of a single lane in both directions. 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. 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 is possible that stopping him that day saved his life or someone else’s. I can only hope that the charges and loss of vehicle wakes him up to the seriousness of his driving choices. This is why we do what we do.
On March 4, 2025 I was patrolling the 21000 block of River Road when a blue Toyota Aristo drove past me at a high rate of speed, recounts Constable Cole Vander Helm. I activated my emergency equipment and managed to stop the vehicle after witnessing it cross into the oncoming lane over a double solid line. The driver, who was driving 130 KM/hr in a 50 KM/hr zone, was ticketed for excessive speed and illegal pass on roadway, and received a 7-day vehicle impoundment.
On March 4, 2025 I was patrolling the 21000 block of River Road when a blue Toyota Aristo drove past me at a high rate of speed,
I activated my emergency equipment and managed to stop the vehicle after witnessing it cross into the oncoming lane over a double solid line. The driver, who was driving 130 KM/hr in a 50 KM/hr zone, was ticketed for excessive speed and illegal pass on roadway, and received a 7-day vehicle impoundment.
Cst. Vander Helm continues, This stretch of East River Road is narrow, consisting of a single lane in both directions. 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. 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 is possible that stopping him that day saved his life or someone else’s. I can only hope that the charges and loss of vehicle wakes him up to the seriousness of his driving choices. This is why we do what we do.
This stretch of East River Road is narrow, consisting of a single lane in both directions. 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. 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 is possible that stopping him that day saved his life or someone else’s. I can only hope that the charges and loss of vehicle wakes him up to the seriousness of his driving choices. This is why we do what we do.
Richmond RCMP employs intelligence-led policing to identify high-risk areas and target enforcement where it’s most needed.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to making Richmond’s roads safer for everyone, says Sergeant Baskette. Our officers will continue targeted enforcement to reduce preventable collisions.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to making Richmond’s roads safer for everyone,
Our officers will continue targeted enforcement to reduce preventable collisions.
Richmond RCMP urges all drivers to slow down, leave phones alone, and stay focused on the road.
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Email: richmond_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca Website: richmond.rcmp.ca
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