The RCMP will be getting tougher on excessive speeding in the province, starting Sep. 20, through increased enforcement and large penalties and impoundments.

“It is pretty simple,” said Steve Martin, Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.

“Speed is the number one cause of traffic fatalities in the province.”

Impaired driving is the second.

“It is a problem and we are trying to make a dent and get better outcomes,” he added.

While the fines have not increased – a $368 ticket for going 40 kilometres per hour over the limit and $483 for going 60 kilometres over the limit – new impoundments will take lead-foots off the road.

A charge of excessive speeding will trigger a mandatory seven-day impoundment for the first offence, 30-days for the second, and 60-days for a third.

The legislation covers company vehicles as well, according to Cpl. Tom Woodall of North Peace Traffic Services unit.

“The legislation will be significant for company vehicles in the area as well because with these impoundments those company vehicles can be impounded for the same length of time as a result of the actions of the driver,” he said.

He is happy with the new legislation.

“Anything to assist in getting speeds down is a good thing. Speeds will probably contribute to between 35 to 40 per cent of our collisions as well as our fatal collisions in this area. Speed is a significant problem in the area given that it is a factor in all of those collisions. When our members are out on the road doing enforcement, it is common to get excessive speed violators.”

Given the remoteness of many roads in the region and the fact that enforcement is limited to resources available, sometimes people see that as a green light to speed.

“It is preventable, but it is an attitude, I think,” Woodall said.

He said RCMP see a spike in speed-related accidents as each winter rolls around and the ice hits the road.

“The bottom line is that it’s dangerous and people are losing their lives and getting injured because of it.”

In addition to fines and impoundments, there will be other costs associated with excessive speed, Martin explained.

“A seven-day vehicle impoundment costs the drive $270, a 30-day impoundment costs $827 and a 60-day impoundment costs $1,553 because everything escalates whether it is your first, second or third time as an excessive speeder. Those are on top of the fines. They have to pay to get their vehicle out of the impound lot.”

Three penalty points on a driver’s licence and a $320 per year ICBC driver-risk premium for three years will also apply.

“We will be doing a ‘speed relative to conditions’ campaign later this month. There will be increased patrols out specifically targeting speeders, trying to get the message out before the winter arrives and the slippery conditions return,” Woodall added.

Martin’s message is simple: “Slow down!”

Police issue about 10,000 tickets annually for excessive speeding in the province.