Speed

Mistakes is a campaign launched by the New Zealand Transport Agency that "encourages the audience to be conscious of other road users and to choose a safer speed that factors in the chance for human error." I fear that the current speed limit review here in British Columbia will be driven by "me" centered drivers who have little or no consideration for other road users. This campaign gives valid reasons to support careful consideration of other factors beyond better roads and better vehicles should result in higher speed limits.

I was stopped by a motorcycle officer over a 60kph bridge. I was going over the posted limit, and unaware of the "excessive speed" consequences. The officer claimed to have paced me and I was "pulling away from" him. I was asked initially how fast I thought I was going and ignorantly and mistakenly guessed "110".

Question: Is there a section in the Motor Vehicle Act that states in the absence of speed signage on a highway (ie a newly constructed / upgraded section), a driver will use common sense to judge what a safe speed limit would be?

Question: If I was driving at 150 km/h in a 110 km/h zone, is that considered excessive speeding? The definition I have found on line states that excessive speeding is over 40 km/h.

I've recently attended a dispute hearing for a speeding in a municipality charge. When I arrived the officer greeted me in the hallway before the courtroom and invited me into a small interrogation room. He then asked me what my intentions were, and after a quick run down of the possible options, I replied that I was here to plead not guilty.

Setting the speed limit on a highway in BC is a more complex process than most people realize. If you're curious, the Ministry of Tranportation and Infrastucture's blog explains about design, use and review with regard to speed limit setting and revision on our highways.

I was asked what I thought about radar and laser detectors again today and why the government has not seen fit to outlaw them. It's an interesting question and definitely has as many answers as there are people to express an opinion. Let's take a look at it from the point of view of a mixed message delivered to drivers that may serve to promote a bad attitude.

I understand that when driving in a bike lane the speed limit is 30km/hr. However the signage for these can be confusing at times I find. Here in North Vancouver for example there are narrow residential roads with images of a bike and two arrows painted directly on the road. This isn't a bike ONLY lane as it's more in the middle of the road with the traffic and is not bound by white lines.

Choosing the speed to drive at on our highways is a highly controversial and individual decision. I would dare to say that the posted speed limit is only a guide for many drivers. For those drivers, the choice ranges from total disregard to the point that you decide what is 10 over from.

This case is an appeal of a conviction for excessive speeding. Gary Westgate was measured using a laser speed measuring device at 96 km/h in a posted 50 km/h zone. At issue was a document concerning a device used to measure the output of the laser device itself. The certificate had expired in April of 2006..