Learner motorcycle rider charged and bike impounded after being caught excessively speeding

Island District, BC Highway Patrol

2023-05-18 17:08 PDT

File # BCHP Parksville 2023-823

On May 12, 2023, at approximately 9:00pm an officer with BC Highway Patrol – Parksville was conducting speed enforcement on Highway # 1 near Bench Road in Cowichan Bay, BC. The officer was first alerted by the sound of a roaring engine, and then observed a grey Honda motorcycle approaching in the northbound lanes at a high rate of speed. The officer established that the motorcycle was traveling at a speed of 189 km/h in the posted 90km/h zone.

The rider of the motorcycle then proceeded to pull into a nearby service station on their own accord, seemingly unaware of the officer that they had just sped past. Once the motorcycle had been turned off by the rider, the officer took the opportunity to safely approach. The rider, identified as a 19 year old man from Duncan, BC, was in possession of a learner’s motorcycle licence.

Staff Sergeant Adam Tallboy, the acting OIC of BCHP Vancouver Island said, Speaking as a motorcycle rider both in my personal time and while working, I can attest that riding is a great experience. This experience however comes with high levels of vulnerability and responsibility. When riding a motorcycle be extra vigilant, ride responsibly and know that you just don’t have that degree of protection surrounding you that an enclosed motor vehicle would otherwise provide.

The motorcycle was impounded and the rider was charged with excessively speeding under the BC Motor Vehicle Act.

BC Highway Patrol would like to remind motorists that May is High-Risk Driving Awareness month in BC, and police agencies throughout the Province are making our highways safer together by stepping up enforcement of unsafe driving behaviours.

BC Highway Patrol