Latest news with #speeding
CTV News
15 hours ago
- CTV News
Edmonton woman fined for drunk driving at 150 km/h in rainstorm
RCMP say they fined an Edmonton woman $1,200 for driving drunk at excessive speeds during a rainstorm last week. A statement issued Friday said the woman was driving on the Yellowhead east of Edmonton near the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village on June 20. Police used a laser speed measuring device to calculate the vehicle's speed at 150 kilometers an hour during a heavy rainstorm with reduced visibility. The woman's licence was immediately suspended for 90 days and her vehicle was impounded for 30 days. She was also fined $1,200. 'In Alberta, if you suspect someone is driving under the influence, you should call 911 immediately,' said a statement from Lamont RCMP. 'When reporting, if safe to do so, provide your location, a description of the vehicle (including license plate, make, model, and color), and the direction of travel to police.'
Auto Express
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Almost half of UK drivers break the speed limit… and that's an improvement
Almost half of UK drivers are suspected of breaking the speed limit when driving in 30mph zones, according to the latest estimates from the Department for Transport (DfT). And while that may sound shocking, it's actually an improvement over the last few years. The Government doesn't seem to have much faith in the UK public's ability to adhere to speed limits, as official figures estimate that 43 per cent of drivers will speed in 30mph zones when there's free-flowing traffic and no speed cameras. Advertisement - Article continues below Although undeniably alarming, it's actually a significant step forward from 2017, when more than half of drivers (51 per cent) were thought to be straying over the limit in these circumstances. However, things are even worse when you consider 20mph zones, as the Government reckons the amount of people going faster than the law permits jumps up to around three-quarters (76 per cent), with 10 per cent of drivers exceeding the limit by more than 10mph. These figures haven't been pulled out of thin air; the DfT has created these estimates by using data collected from Automatic Traffic Counters (ATCs) – the discreet strips of wire you sometimes see stretched across the road. These obtain information such as the speed and volume of traffic and are typically placed away from bends and junctions to gather an accurate picture of how traffic is progressing. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Speeding isn't exclusive to slower roads, either; 44 per cent of drivers are thought to exceed the limit on the motorway, although interestingly, this drops to just nine per cent in national speed limit zones on A and B roads. It's no surprise, then, that in 2024, a total of 205,522 drivers were found guilty of a speeding offence – an increase of 87 per cent since 2011 – with more than 1.8 million attending a speed awareness course last year. The most cited reason for speeding by offenders, according to the RAC's 2024 Report on Motoring, is that they were matching the speeds of others. However, a spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs Council told Auto Express: 'Driving in excess of the speed limit is a conscious decision. You can choose not to do it and many lives can be saved as a result. 'Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured on our roads each year as a result of excessive speed and for each one of those people there will be multiple friends, families and communities affected, so the true impact is almost impossible to quantify.' Come and join our WhatsApp channel for the latest car news and reviews... Find a car with the experts New Volvo EX60 electric SUV: latest details and confirmed reveal date New Volvo EX60 electric SUV: latest details and confirmed reveal date The upcoming, all-electric Volvo XC60 alternative is designed to 'keep learning and evolve with time' BYD and Octopus Energy team up for 'all-inclusive' EV deal BYD and Octopus Energy team up for 'all-inclusive' EV deal Octopus' 'Power Pack Bundle' includes a leased BYD, a wallbox charger and charging all for less than £300 per month New Skoda Epiq baby SUV could be a Tardis on wheels New Skoda Epiq baby SUV could be a Tardis on wheels The new Skoda Epic will sit below the Elroq and Enyaq in the brand's ever-expanding SUV range and is set to offer plenty of space despite its compact …
Auto Blog
2 days ago
- Politics
- Auto Blog
Controversial New Driving Law Threatens Speeders With Imprisonment
Florida speeders have a lot more at stake starting July 1 A new Florida law taking effect July 1 slaps first-time offenders caught excessively speeding with up to 30 days of jail time. The law targets drivers traveling 50 mph over the speed limit or exceeding 100 mph. First-time offenders face up to 30 days of imprisonment, a $500 fine, or both, while repeat offenders could be jailed for up to 90 days, pay a $1,000 fine, or both. Repeat offenders can also have their license revoked for up to one year, and those nabbed for speeding by 50 mph or more must appear in court. However, not everyone agrees with the law's stipulations. Florida House of Representatives member Mike Gottlieb said, 'It's constitutionally overbroad. It is incredibly invasive. It's going to clog our court systems in a way that none of us can imagine. The bill makes sense, speeding kills, we want to punish people more severely for speeding. It's not well thought out, and its enforcement and inaction, I would urge you, we need to reconsider this, tee it up next session. It's not a good bill. It's not in a great posture,' WFLA reports. Welcome to Florida road sign — Source: Getty Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, approved the bill on May 22 after it received a 75-38 vote in the state House and a 37-0 vote in the state Senate. Efforts to curb excessive speeding before Florida's new law included Operation Southern Slow Down in 2024, a weeklong program emphasizing speeding enforcement and education. Operation Southern Slow Down 2024 also included states such as Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Florida's Department of Transportation states that speeding contributed to almost 10% of statewide traffic fatalities from 2019 to 2023. In 2024, 3,100 deaths were recorded, The Mirror US reports. According to Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, drivers between 16 and 25 are the state's most frequent offenders of excessive speeding. Florida's new learner's permit law also starts on July 1 The excessive speeding law isn't the only new Florida driving law kicking off on July 1. Starting July 1, Florida requires anyone who is at least 15 to complete a driver's education course to receive a learner's permit. Students had previously faced less strict mandates by only needing to complete traffic law and substance abuse education classes. The new law also requires teens applying for a license to receive parental approval, complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course, pass a vision and hearing test, and a written driver's exam. Drivers can apply for a license after driving with a permit for one year or when reaching 18, whichever comes first, if they receive no moving violations, and after logging 50 hours of driving experience with an adult 21 or older, 10 hours of which must be at night. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Florida surf license plate — Source: Getty Final thoughts While Florida will need time to evaluate the efficiency of its new law heavily penalizing excessive speeding, the state has other options if the legislation doesn't lower instances like traffic fatalities. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) studies of cameras on residential roads in Maryland, on a high-speed roadway in Arizona, and on city streets in the District of Columbia found that the proportion of drivers exceeding speed limits by more than 10 mph declined by 70%, 88%, and 82%, respectively, six to eight months after cameras were introduced. Florida currently limits the use of speed cameras to school zones during school hours. About the Author Cody Carlson View Profile
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Driver going 185 km/h with infant in backseat was recording Snapchat video, troopers say
An undated image of a vehicle's internal speedometer accelerating beyond 110km/h. (File photo/plusphoto/GettyImages) PUNTA GORDA, Florida (WBBH) -- A high-speed traffic stop on I-75 in Charlotte County has led to serious charges for a Port Charlotte man, after Florida Highway Patrol clocked him speeding at 115 miles per hour (185 km/h) —with a 10-month-old baby in the back seat. The incident unfolded Sunday near the Harborview Road exit when troopers pulled over 29-year-old Charles Wheeler II. State troopers said he was speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating other drivers, and using Snapchat on his phone while behind the wheel. Wheeler's backseat passenger was his girlfriend's 10-month-old child. At one point, troopers said Wheeler nearly crashed while dodging a mattress on the highway. After pulling Wheeler over, troopers arrested him on charges of reckless driving and child neglect. On the way to the Charlotte County Jail, deputies say Wheeler's phone began blaring vulgar music in the patrol car. When the trooper attempted to silence the device, he discovered a Snapchat video showing Wheeler's speedometer at 110 mph (177 km/h) with the caption, 'Good Vibes Only.' By Madison Monroe Adams
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Miami-Dade's school zone speed cameras enforce fines all day, sparking frustration from drivers
South Florida woman says she has received five speeding tickets in the mail South Florida woman says she has received five speeding tickets in the mail South Florida woman says she has received five speeding tickets in the mail Speeding through a school zone in Miami-Dade could cost you, even outside of traditional drop-off and pick-up hours. County officials said school zone speed cameras are enforcing limits throughout the entire school day, a policy that has some drivers questioning how and when the rules apply. Cameras active all day in school zones Miami-Dade County said speed enforcement cameras, operated by RedSpeed, are issuing $100 fines for drivers going more than 10 mph over the limit during the full school day. While speed limits drop to 15 mph during the 30 minutes before and after school starts and ends, violations can still be issued during regular daytime hours when normal speed limits apply. Peggy Hernandez of Opa-locka said she's already received five tickets in the mail — totaling $500 — while driving her granddaughter to a school near Ives Dairy Road. "I have $500 in tickets," Hernandez told CBS News Miami. "Sometimes at 7 a.m., 7:30 a.m., sometimes at 2:30 in the afternoon, 11:35 in the morning — it varies, and it's not always during the school zone times, which is so frustrating." Officials: Enforcement is based on student safety According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, the camera enforcement is active because students are still present on campus and may be outside at various times. "The schools are still functioning and there are kids that are still going to school," said Deputy Joseph Peguero, MDSO public information officer. The county says the funds are being used as follows: The County will retain $60 to administer speed detection systems in school zones and other public safety initiatives and will remit $40 to entities as follows: $20 to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the General Revenue Fund; $12 to the School District for school security initiatives, student transportation, or safety of student walking conditions; $5 to the County or municipality for the School Guard Recruitment and Retention Program; and $3 to the Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund. Drivers say program needs more clarity, flexibility Tickets note that drivers have 30 days to either pay or request a hearing — a process that can carry an additional $250 in court-related costs. Hernandez believes more flexibility is needed. "It should not be all day long," she said. "The kids should be in school. They shouldn't be out in the street. They shouldn't be on the sidewalks. There's no need for it." "I just wish they would figure out an easier way to do it and give you more time to pay it," Hernandez added. "I think that's the key — you need more time to pay it." Miami-Dade officials said the school zone cameras will remain active through the summer session until July 25, then resume enforcement when the new school year begins on August 14.
