An Abbotsford driver caught travelling at nearly double the posted speed limit on a road that borders a school zone said the reason for the excessive speed was they "needed to get to a bathroom," the Abbotsford Police Department reported.
Clocked in a construction zone beside a school
The incident occurred on Thursday, Sept. 10, at about 10 a.m. on King Road near Bradner Road, where an AbbyPD officer was conducting speed enforcement in a construction zone adjacent to a school zone. The officer observed the vehicle aggressively passing other motorists and recorded a speed of 98 km/h in a posted 50 km/h area.
The driver, identified in police comments as 65 years old, was stopped and issued an excessive speeding ticket. The vehicle was impounded for seven days, in keeping with the department's enforcement policy for high-end speeding offences.
“Had the officer not been present, the 65-year-old driver would have entered the nearby school zone at nearly 100 km an hour,” AbbyPD stated on social media.
Enforcement statistics and community risk
AbbyPD noted the impound is part of a broader local effort to deter dangerous speeding. So far this year officers have impounded 329 vehicles for excessive speed. The force emphasised that:
- School zones are designed to protect some of the most vulnerable members of the community, including children.
- Construction zones introduce additional hazards for drivers, pedestrians, and workers.
- Excessive speed increases the likelihood and severity of collisions.
In social media messaging accompanying the incident report, the police underlined that there is no acceptable justification for placing other road users, pedestrians or children at risk through excessive speed.
What the numbers show
The following table summarises the known facts released by police about this stop:
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Posted speed | 50 km/h |
| Recorded speed | 98 km/h |
| Driver age | 65 |
| Vehicle impounded | 7 days |
| Vehicles impounded year-to-date (speed) | 329 |
Local residents and school communities will recognise how quickly a hazardous situation can emerge when motorists exceed posted limits, especially where reduced speeds are in place to protect children and workers in zones affected by construction.
Practical takeaways for drivers
While the police report records the driver's unusual explanation, the episode highlights practical safety reminders for those travelling Abbotsford streets:
- Plan for stops — knowing restroom options on longer trips can reduce the temptation to drive aggressively.
- Slow down in construction and school zones; posted limits are in place for predictable safety reasons.
- Allow extra time for travel near schools, especially during arrival and dismissal windows.
AbbyPD's enforcement and public messaging reflect a broader push across B.C. municipalities to reduce speed-related risk in places where children and other vulnerable road users congregate. For residents, the episode is a reminder that even a few seconds shaved from a trip can carry disproportionate risk for people on or near the road.
