A 20-year-old driver was caught doing 168 km/h on the Coquihalla Highway earlier this month, police said, with five family members packed into the vehicle.
The driver, from the Williams Lake area, was pulled over on a stretch where the speed limit is 120 km/h. According to an RCMP news release, the late-model Honda Pilot—owned by her father—was immediately towed for seven days.
Passenger rules for new drivers
New drivers in B.C. are typically restricted to carrying only one passenger unless they’re supervised. This rule is part of the province’s graduated licensing program, which aims to reduce distractions and allow new drivers to focus on developing safe habits.
But there’s an exception: the limit doesn’t apply if all passengers are immediate family members, as long as everyone is properly buckled in. That loophole meant the driver wasn’t breaking the law by having five passengers. Still, police noted that inexperienced drivers may struggle with the distractions of a full vehicle. “Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean it’s a good idea,” said Corporal Michael McLaughlin of B.C. Highway Patrol.
McLaughlin added that learner drivers often lack the skills to safely manage multiple passengers, especially at high speeds. The driver in this case was issued a $368 fine, plus towing and impound fees.
Speeding fine and impound
The Honda Pilot was impounded under B.C.’s immediate roadside prohibition program, which allows police to tow vehicles for excessive speeding.
Related: California offers rebate for new EV buyers
The driver’s father will need to retrieve the SUV after the seven-day hold.
It’s unclear whether he was one of the passengers at the time of the stop. Police didn’t specify what prompted the speeding, though the release joked that someone “might have had to pee.”
This isn’t the first time a new driver has been caught pushing limits in B.C. Last year, a similar case involved a learner clocked at 140 km/h with multiple passengers. While the family exemption exists, authorities have repeatedly warned that it doesn’t make crowded vehicles any safer for inexperienced drivers.
The incident serves as a reminder that licensing restrictions are designed to ease new drivers into handling real-world conditions. Speeding, even on open highways, reduces reaction time—something that’s already compromised when a vehicle is packed with people.
For now, the driver faces a hefty bill and a week without the family SUV.
