Image Credit: InfoTel Multimedia
(JESSICA WALLACE / iNFOnews.ca)
December 03, 2012 - 3:44 PM
A sign warns pedestrians of a $121 penalty for jaywalking across Summit Drive and another sign advises them to cross at the nearest crosswalk one block up on McGill Rd.
But the signs still aren't enough to prevent Thompson Rivers University students from jaywalking across four lanes of traffic to shave a few minutes from their morning commute, avoid dreaded campus parking lots and save on parking fees.
Declan Murphy, a second year arts student who lives across Summit in McBeth Place, jaywalks there all the time and he's never alone.
"It's really only (saving) a minute or two but it just seems more convenient," he said.
As a full-time student, Murphy walks to and from school almost every day. It's the same routine he had as a first-year student when he lived in student housing, Upper College Heights, across Summit Drive. Murphy said he has never seen anyone fined for jaywalking at that location.
"I've been standing on the medium and cops will just drive by. It's happened three or four times."
Despite recent reports of pedestrian injuries, Murphy still isn't concerned about the safety of jaywalking.
"I'm just as alert either way," he said.
While he is aware of RCMP fining jaywalkers at that very spot only days before, he admitted he would likely continue his usual routine.
"If I got a ticket I'd probably stop."
Staff Sgt. Grant Learned said there has been community concern regarding jaywalking in the area.
On Nov. 30, RCMP cracked down on the problem by fining 30 jaywalkers in one hour.
"This comes as a result of public complaint," Learned said.
He said in light of recent pedestrian injuries, RCMP are cracking down on dangerous driving through Counter Attack programs targeted at drunk drivers and a 'safety blitz' targeted at distracted drivers and jaywalkers.
Learned said the responsibility lies not only in drivers but also in pedestrians.
"Pedestrians do have some shared responsibility in trying to get across the road safely."
— Jessica Wallace
jwallace@infotelnews.ca
(250)319-7494
News from © iNFOnews, 2012