Alberta Traffic Services stop over 4000 speeders over long weekend

A motorcyclist clocked at 190 km/hr in a 110 km zone, on August 31st, at around 3:30 pm, on Highway # 28, near Range Road 91, was one of thousands of motorists taking big chances with their speed this past long weekend.

The motorcycle operator was observed by motorists weaving in and out of traffic on his Kawasaki Ninja before police put an end to the endangering behaviour. The 22-year-old driver has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Provincial Traffic Services organized a number of road check projects and conducted enhanced patrols throughout the province leading up to and throughout the recent September Long Weekend.

This included two traffic operations where the media was invited to attend; one in the Edmonton area, and the second near Calgary.

Three traffic-related fatalities were reported in the province.

In addition to the above noted high flyer, the Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU) also responded to a three-vehicle collision which occurred in the northbound lanes of Highway # 2, between the Calgary city limits and Highway # 566, at the Balzac overpass.  While five persons were involved occupying the three vehicles at the time of the crash, no one was injured.

Speed and aggressive driving were contributing factors in the collision.  A 37-year-old male was charged with Careless Driving under the Traffic Safety Act.

The following serves as some brief summaries of what police had to deal with.....

1.   Cochrane ITU reported the province's first 3-day suspension and vehicle seizure,  with the occurrence taking place approximately ten minutes after the legislation officially came into effect at midnight, September 1st.

2.   An Alberta Sheriff from High River ITU, acting on police information received from Calgary, stopped a vehicle matching the description of a vehicle that had been observed speeding on Highway # 2 earlier in the day.  After the vehicle was stopped, the driver was found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle.  He was subsequently arrested for impaired driving by alcohol, and officers believe that he was also under the influence of narcotics at the time of his arrest.

3.   On September 1st, at 10:35 hrs, a west-bound vehicle on Hwy # 29, west of St. Paul, was clocked at 200 km/hr, in a 100 zone while passing another vehicle.  As police approached, the driver was observed tossing a beer can out of the window.  The 43-year-old subject was found to be impaired by alcohol.

4.   On September 2nd, Wetaskiwin ITU stopped a vehicle on Hwy # 13 for speeding.  This check led to a 3-day suspension and subsequent vehicle seizure.  The subject also had four outstanding warrants for his arrest stemming from previous impaired driving offences.  He was remanded in custody and was to appear in Court earlier this week.

5.   On September 2nd, Capital Region West ITU not only arrested three impaired drivers over the weekend, but also dealt with two impaired boaters who were identified by Fish and Wildlife Officers on Lake Wabamun. The two brothers refused to provide breath samples and were subsequently charged with this offence.

At least twenty-four (24) impaired driving charges came about, which is believed to be an unfortunate record for the long weekends this year.

Nine charges using the new Bill 26 legislation were laid throughout the province.

"This was the largest and most effective Long Weekend campaign in several years", said Inspector Stephen GRANT, Operations Officer for Alberta Traffic Services. "While the weekend was still not without loss of life, the considerable efforts undertaken to remove impaired and dangerous drivers from the roadways of the province, likely reduced the potential of further, unnecessary tragedies".