Photo Credit: Golden RCMP

By Shane Clausing

123 km/h over

Grande Prairie driver caught travelling 173 km/hr in B.C. construction zone

Jun 2, 2021 | 5:30 PM

A Grande Prairie driver is facing a hefty fine from the BC Highway Patrol in Golden, BC, after a member of the BC Highway Patrol clocked the driver travelling at 173 kilometers per hour in a 50 kilometer per hour construction zone on Highway 1.

The driver was stopped on May 27, who BC Highway Patrol confirmed to EverythingGP carried a driver’s license with a Grande Prairie address.

They say the driver claimed he was speeding because he was trying to make it through on Highway 1 before the scheduled road closure related to the Kicking Horse Canyon highway upgrades.

Because of the driver’s behavior, BC Highway Patrol issued the driver a ticket for excessive speed and the vehicle was impounded for seven days at his own cost.

“At that speed, the time to perceive and react to situations is severely diminished,” said Sgt. Chad Badry.

“The danger is compounded when travelling in a construction zone where workers are vulnerable and road conditions often require speeds much slower than the usual speed limit.

The B.C. Highway Patrol says throughout the summer they’ll always be on the lookout for these types of risky driving behaviours that put those drivers, the public and workers at risk.