‘You aren’t Max Verstappen’: Alberta RCMP urges drivers to slow down as warm weather hits

It’s a cheeky tweet put out by Alberta’s RCMP urging drivers to take care and slow down on the roads this summer.

“Alberta roads are not Formula 1 closed street circuits, and you aren’t Max Verstappen,” read part of the tweet from RCMP.

Sorry to break it to you, but Alberta roads are not Formula 1 closed street-circuits and you aren't Max Verstappen. Slow down, drive the posted speed limit and help everyone get home safely. #RCMPTraffic pic.twitter.com/TKSaXMuFVB

— RCMP Alberta (@RCMPAlberta) April 5, 2022

Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, is getting set to race in Australia this weekend and picked up his first F1 win of the 2022 season on – you guessed it – a street circuit in Jeddah on March 27.

And while Albertans would like to hit the quick speeds of an F1 and not have to sit in traffic, RCMP is reminding drivers that rate does increase the risk of collision and serious injury, and it is a traffic safety violation.

Last year, Alberta RCMP alone issued 70,580 speeding-related tickets, with over 5,200 in April.

“According to Alberta Transportation, more than half of all fatal collisions involving unsafe speeds occur in rural areas,” said Insp. Chris Romanchych, Alberta RCMP Traffic Services, in a statement. “We want our communities to feel safe out on our province’s roadways. Speed shouldn’t be the reason a loved one doesn’t make it home.”

For those wanting to go as fast as an F1 car, RCMP says, “the faster you go, the longer it takes you to stop.” And breaks in your vehicle are not as high quality as they are in motorsports.

Something else for Alberta drivers to remember, the province’s new photo radar enforcement rules came into effect to start April.

READ MORE: Some photo radar changes are now in effect, what Calgary drivers need to know