ICBC’s top 10 excuses for why people speed
 

If you’re caught speeding, you’ll want to throw away your bag of excuses. Police have heard it all and are warning drivers excuses won’t get you out of a ticket at any time. We asked police across the province to share drivers’ top excuses for speeding:

1. I’m late for class/work/court. This age-old excuse won’t work, especially if you’re on your way to court! “My boss will fire me” or “My teacher will fail me” are lines that won’t work either. Be more realistic, plan your route and allow yourself extra time. There are many things that cause delays, such as traffic, construction, bad weather and, unfortunately, car crashes. If you’re going to be later than you expected – deal with it. Take a deep breath and accept the delay. Like they say, better late than never.

2. I didn’t know I was going that fast. Normally, your speedometer doesn’t lie! Though playing dumb with the police will definitely earn you points—that’s penalty points with a hefty fine. Remember to check your speedometer once in a while. And be sure to focus on the road. There are around 8,200 speed-related collisions in an average year in BC, which injure 5,500 people and kill 161 (2003-2007 police data). Unsafe speed is one of the most frequently cited contributing factors in police-reported car crashes. Slowing down reduces your risk of getting in a crash.

3. I didn’t know the speed limit. That’s like saying you didn’t know Canada was north of the U.S. border. The provincial and municipal governments ensure speed limits are clearly posted along highways and city roads. Under the Motor Vehicle Act, the basic speed limits are 80 km/h outside municipalities and 50 km/h within municipalities.

4. I was passing a dangerous/bad/slow driver. Driving like Bond or Bourne should be left to the pros in Hollywood blockbusters. Weaving in and out of traffic is one of the top five high-risk behaviours that cause car crashes. Give other drivers the benefit of the doubt and keep your distance.

5. My car doesn’t go that fast. Nice try! Unless you’re driving a low-speed vehicle like a moped or scooter, your car can go as fast as a swift (the bird not the Suzuki) which flies between 160 and 320 km/h. A Swedish study shows that dropping your speed by five per cent reduces your crash risk by 14 to 20 per cent.

6. I was just keeping up with traffic. Drivers aren’t like cattle in a herd—would you keep speeding if the cars in front were heading towards a brick wall? Sure, it’s important to keep up with the flow of traffic, but do so within the posted speed limit. If another driver is too close, safely move out of the way and let the vehicle pass. It’s better to do this than risk a crash or a speeding ticket.

7. I was only going 10 km/h over the speed limit and that’s OK. Actually, if you speed up to 20 km/h over the limit, you could get a $138 ticket. Also, the faster you go, the longer it takes to stop. At 30 km/h, it takes 18 metres to come to a full stop. At 80 km/h, it takes 76 metres. Think of what that looks like when trying to avoid a person, an animal or a large truck.

8. I have to go to the bathroom. Lame. This is something you likely learned from your mom and teachers over the years—“always use a washroom before you leave.” Plus, this excuse won’t hold up with the cops. There are plenty of gas stations and rest-stops along major roads and highways.

9. I was having an argument with my spouse and wasn’t paying attention. Sure, we all have arguments from time to time (Canucks game vs. Canadian Idol, playing golf vs. a visit to the in-laws…). But these are far better resolved outside a car. If you simply must resolve the debate, pull over and park. It’s safer. Plus, you’ll make it home in one piece after your mother-in-law’s sumptuous cedar plank salmon.

10. I’m sick and am going to the hospital/I’m about to give birth. Really? If you’re that sick or about to give birth in the driver’s seat, call an ambulance. You’re not trained to drive like an emergency medical technician, a police officer or a fire fighter, so stick with what you know and drive safe. Call a professional and get there safely.

Fines for speeding range from $138 to $483. As well, as of January 2009 , drivers who have one or more excessive speeding convictions will pay a Driver Risk Premium (DRP). For more information and tips, visit www.icbc.com.

http://www.icbc.com/about%20ICBC/new...eleases/may_09

LOL,

otherwise a good read of what excuses not to use when caught speeding, jk, stick to the speed limits on the streets

Personally, I do not agree with some of these situations as "excuses"
Don't get me wrong though, driving over the speed limit is wrong, period.
However, I want to point out that being late for work seems more like a "reason" and not an "excuse", as an excuse seems like something you can call bullshit on, like "my car doesn't go that fast". Let's say your wife IS really about to give birth and the cops see that as an "excuse" instead of a "reason" to why you are driving fast. I'm sure the cop will be more understanding as exceptions may be made.

A quick number crunch shows that ICBC assumes people decelerate at 0.20G during a panic stop from 30km/h and 0.33G at 80km/h. Unless you're driving a semi or are some 70-year-old grandma, this is simply incorrect. Most cars can easily do 0.4-0.5G, if not much higher. Are they using data from the 70s or using snowy conditions or something? Either that or they're assuming everyone on the road drives like a retard.

I remember reading some article where some guy got ticketed in the States (back when there was the blanket 55mph rule) for speeding @ 65mph, then when they raised the limits on the same highway past 65 he wrote the DOT and asked for his money back. Of course they didn't return it. So much for "safety".

If the majority of the population is breaking a rule, perhaps it's time to see if the rule is really that valid. There's a reason why cops turn a blind eye when you go 10-20 over. Even they do it.

You guys realize that a lot of the speed limits (specifically highways) were arbitrarily set (and in many cases artificially low) and do NOT reflect current conditions right?

Why is driving above the speed limit wrong?

cuz its too fast and dangerous!!!!

a lot of these are just bullshits
YOU are much much more likely to cause and be in an accident if you are traveling at speed significantly lower than the traffic. That's just common sense and facts.

Even the retards know the faster you go, you long it takes you to stop. Using the same logic, maybe we should reduce the limit from 50km/h to 40km/h? but then, 30km/h is actually safer than 40km/h. What about 20km/h or maybe even 10km/h? They are definitely much safer and I am sure that would reduce the number of death and injury from car accident.

werd that seems the fucking bullshit ICBC is trying to sell us.

WOWWWW the slower we go, the less death we get! YAYYYY

new fucking rule

10km in school zone, 40km in city. 55km on hwy.

i guran motherfucking tee we wont have any retards dieing in car accidents. yayyyyy :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::thumbsup:

fucking stupid, lame ass slow traffic limites. 80km on our hwy no.1 :rolleyes::rolleyes: wat kind of highway is that

The problem is that ICBC teaches people lower speed = safer.
Not better driving = safer.

Lots of accidents are seen as, "the driver should of slowed down"
instead of "he should of drove better (shoulder check, not yap on the cell, learn to steer properly, know your own dimensions of your car and surroundings, etc)"

Do you have any common sense?

The speed limits are set to a reasonable speed to be able to stop. Your suggestions aren't reasonable.

All reasons (excluding acts of god) for being late are excuses, there is NO good reason to be late. Being late only shows how unprepared you are.

Watch the ICBC commercial about the guy running late for work. If he got up earlier he'd be able to take his time and not rush.

^ There's more reasons to be late for work than "waking up late".
Building caught on fire, neighbour needed help, kid had a fever, whatever.

my mom tried to get away with number 5 once,
saying she was in a smart and couldn't possibly go that fast.
But she was going 80... in the city...

[youtube]UYc875zkDxg[/youtube]

What's considered reasonable?
given the same situation, the slower you go, you faster you are able to stop.

To an 80 years old who can barely walk, driving 30km/h is reasonable
To a professional driver with 20 years of road experience, driving at 80/h is reasonable. Where do we set the line?

How about before you head out to work, you get a call from:
- Friends asking you to give him a ride home cause he just got into an accident
- girlfriend telling you she is about to commit suicide
- hospital telling you your mother has been in an accident
- police telling you your daughter was raped last night
or you get down to your garage and found your car stolen (happened to me)...etc

There are millions of legitimate reasons for being late and beyond one's control, don't talk like a saint

My top reason:

Because I feel the need......for speed *cue Top Gun music*

You cannot be serious?

The line has to be set somewhere, or just ban driving at all. Which would you prefer?

If an 80yo can barely walk, they probably should be driving.
Professional drivers do not have pedestrians on course.

Are you done with the exceptions to the rule? Or are you going to find every minority that the law doesn't account for and ignore the majority it does? Please let me know I'll ignore you.

Don't be a drama queen.

If any of those occurred, I would be calling work to let them know.
That would be the "responsible" thing to do, you wouldn't know about taking responsibility cause you have an excuse for everything.

I did account for "acts of god" ie things beyond your reasonable control. Lets not pretend these are a daily occurrence, yet speeding is a daily occurrence.

LOL awesome!

I speed too, yet I'm not going to make an excuse for it. I make the decision to speed and live with the consequences.

+1

there are days were u need to be in a hurry. Those who talk as if they are never in a hurry is fucking bullshiting, we are all late for watever the shit we need to do at certain time of our life. and those are the days we wonna get from Point A to point B in no time

Those are all weakass!
My friend turbo'd his GS400 back in 2000 (holy crap 10 years ago!)
and was testing the top speed and got busted.
The cop asked him, why were you doing X speed?
And he replied he was trying to break the sound barrier. The cop actually laughed!

Best excuse. I blame it on the a.a.aaalachaol baby

11.) I need to rush home to check new posts on RevScene!!!111