An Albertan visiting B.C. learned an expensive lesson on how gas mileage works.

When the RCMP highway patrol stopped a Kia Carnival minivan going 136 km/h in a 100 zone earlier this week on Highway 97C near Merritt, the driver begged off with the excuse that he was speeding because he was nearly out of gas.

“We explained to the driver that speeding dramatically worsens your fuel economy,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin. “And, sure enough, the van ran out of gas at roadside. Meanwhile, the driver could not explain why only two out of nine people were wearing seatbelts, or why a three-year-old’s car seat had no functioning buckles.”

The cumulative fines reached nearly $1,000 for the 36-year-old Edmonton man and his party. He was cited for speeding ($196), permitting passengers without seatb

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