A Kelowna resident faces dangerous driving charges after being clocked travelling at 270 kilometres-an-hour (km/h) in his sports car last month, according to Cochrane RCMP.
A press release from the detachment states the speeder occurred Sept. 15 at approximately 7 p.m.. According to the release, an Alberta RCMP traffic officer was conducting routine traffic enforcement in west Rocky View County that evening when they spotted a white sports car coming toward them at "an extremely high speed" on Highway 1 near Hermitage Road.
"The 2011 Porsche 911 was recorded travelling 270 km/h in a posted 110 km/h zone," the release stated.
Michael Peterec, 36, a resident of Kelowna, B.C., has been charged with dangerous driving contrary to Section 320.13 of the Criminal Code of Canada. He will appear in Cochrane Provincial Court on Dec. 13.
In their release, RCMP stated this specific stretch of highway has been identified as an area where motorists often speed in excess of the posted limit. They warn that in an effort to maintain road safety, Alberta RCMP Traffic has increased patrols in the area to address this issue.
"Even though there was no collision, the release stated an Alberta RCMP Traffic Forensic Collision Reconstructionist was consulted and provided a detailed report for use in court as expert evidence to support the Criminal Code Dangerous Driving charge.
The report calculated that when travelling at a speed of 270 km/h, a vehicle needs 337.29 metres to come to a complete stop once brakes are applied – the equivalent of more than three Canadian football field lengths.
In comparison, a motorist requires just 55.96 metres to come to a complete stop once brakes are applied when travelling at the posted 110 km/h speed limit.
“There is no excuse for excessive speeding on our streets and highways," said Insp. Chris Romanchych, Alberta RCMP Traffic, in the release.
According to Alberta Transportation, more than half of all fatal collisions involving unsafe speeds occur in rural areas. In 2021, there were 70,5801 recorded speeding offences in Alberta RCMP jurisdiction, with RCMP officers charging 913 motorists with Excessive Speeds (travelling more than 50 km/h over the posted limit).
"Travelling at rates beyond the posted limit puts you and those you are sharing the road with, at risk," Romanchych said.