Edmonton sees drastic increase in speeding incidents

Some Edmontonians may have developed a lead foot during the pandemic.

Edmonton police are reporting a drastic increase in speeding incidents so far in 2022, and the city has already overshot the total number of speeding fines from 2021.

“We are only halfway through the year, and we have already surpassed the number of incidents of extreme speeding we saw in all of 2021,” says S/Sgt. James McLeod, with the EPS Traffic Enforcement Section. “Needless to say, this driving behavior increases the severity of collisions on our roadways, causing serious injuries and deaths that are completely preventable.”

So far in 2022, 350 speeding fines have been issued for people going 40 km/h or more over the speed limit. Which is 98 more fines issued than in 2021.

EPS have also issued 170 speeding fines for people going 50 km/h or more over the speed limit. As of July 15, that is 10 fewer than all of 2021.

“On Thursday, June 30, 2022, a Ford Mustang was observed traveling 162 km/h in a 60 km/h zone on Gateway Blvd, 102 km/h over the posted speed limit. The driver was issued a mandatory court summons,” EPS said in a statement.

“On Sunday, July 3, 2022, a Toyota Tercel was found traveling at 155 km/h in a marked 60 km/h zone on Anthony Henday Drive at Lessard Road, 95 km/h over the posted speed limit. The driver was issued a mandatory court summons.”