The B.C. government is cracking down on 'excessive speeders' in the province, starting Sept. 20. (CBC)

Drivers caught speeding excessively in British Columbia will soon risk having their cars impounded for the offence.

Starting Sept. 20, drivers caught going more than 40 km/h over the posted speed limit will have their vehicle impounded for seven days, the provincial government announced Thursday.

"Excessive speed is often a death sentence," said B.C. Solicitor General Mike de Jong. "We want to save lives by going after the kind of driver who drives significantly and dangerously over the posted speed limit, and then get them off the road."

A driver caught committing the same speeding offence a second time will lose the vehicle for 30 days.

The penalty will be 60 days for drivers who are caught for a third time or more within a two-year period.

Additional penalties

Impoundment will be in addition to existing penalties, which include:

• A fine of $368 to $483, depending on how excessive the speed.
• Three penalty points on the driver's licence.
• An ICBC driver-risk premium of $320 a year for three years, over and above regular insurance premiums.

Street racers will also affected by the rule change. Under the new provisions, both drivers deemed to be involved in street racing will face minimum seven-day impoundments.

Street racing previously had a minimum impoundment period of 48 hours.

Additionally, the Motor Vehicle Act now makes careless acts such as excessive tailgating, and reckless driving actions such as wheelies and doughnuts subject to a seven-day impoundment, de Jong said.