May long weekend brought ‘sad increase’ in deaths on B.C. highways: RCMP

A BC Highway Patrol cruiser with its emergency lights on and a car pulled over at the side of the highway

There were five deaths on B.C.’s highways over the May long weekend, according to authorities, who issued a plea to drivers Thursday to follow the rules of the road to “avoid both tickets and tragedy.”

The five fatalities marked a stark increase from the same weekend last year, when there were zero deaths, a statement from the B.C. Highway Patrol said.

“The sad increase in long weekend deaths shows how we can’t be complacent after a good year like 2025,” Insp. Chad Badry said, in the statement.

Mounties also provided data on the number of speeding tickets handed out in May, noting there was an overall decrease from the year prior—with one caveat.

The number of tickets for excessive speeding, which means someone is going more than 40 km/h over the limit, increased from 403 to 568.

“Those tickets indicate a dangerous lack of judgment from many drivers,” Badry said.

Fines for excessive speeding range from $368 to $483. Vehicles can also be impounded for seven days for a first offence and 30 days for a second offence within a two-year period.