News release

The maximum speed of a North American Elk is 70 km/h, but that is not an excuse to speed

January 9, 2026 - Moyie, British Columbia
From: BC Highway Patrol

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An Alberta man has lost his Mercedes for seven days after the excuse he offered for excessive speeding failed to impress a BC Highway Patrol officer.

On December 30, 2025, on Highway 3/95 near Moyie, a BC Highway Patrol officer stopped a Mercedes SUV that was clocked doing 160 km/h in a 100 zone. When asked if he had a reason for going so fast, the man told police that he was trying to avoid elk.

“The maximum speed of a North American elk is about 70 km/h, so they are just as athletic as they are majestic, but if you feel the need to get away, you still have plenty of room to spare in a 100 km/h zone,” says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “Instead of coming up with questionable excuses, consider leaving slightly earlier, slowing to the speed limit, and saving yourself the cost and hassle of losing your vehicle to an impound.”

The driver of the Mercedes was served:

• A ticket for excessive speed (more than 60 km/h), section 148(1) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act ($483);
• The cost of a tow truck and a seven-day vehicle impound (outside his home province) at the owner’s expense;
• High-risk driver premiums and escalating insurance costs for any vehicles insured in BC.

“Luckily, no elk were harmed during this incident,” says Corporal McLaughlin. “If you ever hit such a large creature while driving 160, it will end badly for you and very badly for the elk.”

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