Police are urging local drivers to slow down and pay more attention after a rash of accidents in the past two weeks. Police responded to three collisions yesterday in the space of one and a half hours around noon yesterday, Aug. 29, 2016, including this one just south of the Channel Parkway on Highway 97.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP have a strong and urgent message for drivers as the last long weekend of the summer approaches — slow down, and pay attention to the road.

Cpl. Ted Manchulenko says the message comes on the heels of several significant collisions over the past couple of weeks.

“We’ve had a rash of collisions, and they all relate to people who aren’t paying attention, they’re going too fast, everybody seems to be in panic mode here lately, to get where they’re going too quickly,” he says, adding the majority of the collisions involve locals, not tourists.

Manchulenko says two collisions last week sent three people to hospital.

The collision between the cyclist and car, which took place on Aug. 26 at the intersection of Moose Jaw Avenue and Douglas Street, resulted in the cyclist getting partially pinned under a late model Oldsmobile. The cyclist and the driverwere taken to hospital. The accident is still under investigation.

In yesterday's collision, Aug. 29, involved a single vehicle in the Penticton Regional Hospital parking lot. The driver was taken to hospital after she lost control of her vehicle.

While neither of the collisions resulted in life-threatening injuries, Manchulenko says there is still a significant cost in resources.

“We’re looking for everyone to slow down a bit, and take it easy out there. Summer is coming to a close but there are still a couple of months of hopefully decent weather for us to enjoy,” he says.

Manchulenko also says school zones will be back next week. They will be active from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

“It’s $196 minimum penalty and three points for speeding in school zones,” he says.

Police will also be monitoring stopping zones at schools.

“If it’s not a stopping zone, don’t stop there."

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News from © iNFOnews, 2016