Driver Blasted for Saying He Was ‘Drying Off’ His Car While Clocked at Nearly Double the Speed Limit

On the evening of July 20, 2026, a sedan cruised down a quiet Coquitlam street at a blistering 111 km/h — almost twice the posted 60 km/h limit. The flashing lights that followed weren’t a surprise to the driver, but the excuse he later offered certainly raised eyebrows.

When the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) finally pulled the car over, the man, whose name has not been released, told officers he was “trying to dry off his car.” According to his own words, a sudden rain shower had left the windshield speckled, and he figured a burst of speed would whisk the water away.

RCMP officers were, understandably, unconvinced. “You can’t justify exceeding the speed limit by saying you’re drying a vehicle,” said Constable Mark DiBenedetto, who responded to the call. The officer added that the claim was “not only unsafe but also factually incorrect – air resistance at higher speeds doesn’t dry a car any faster than ordinary driving.”

The driver received an immediate citation for exceeding the speed limit by 51 km/h, a serious infraction that carries a hefty fine and demerit points. He was also warned that repeated offenses could lead to licence suspension. The RCMP reminded the public that the safest way to keep a windshield clear is to pull over and use a proper cleaning method, not to treat the road as a giant dryer.

Traffic safety advocates say this incident underscores a broader problem: drivers often invent flimsy justifications for risky behaviour. “We see it all the time – people blaming music, traffic, or ‘being in a hurry’ for breaking the law,” noted local road‑safety group spokesperson Jamie Lee. “The reality is, speeding endangers everyone, and excuses don’t change the physics.”