FILE PHOTO
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/RCMP
May 02, 2019 - 7:00 AM
Police will be targeting lead-footed drivers this month in an effort to get people to slow down and save lives.
Working from data reported by police from 2013 to 2017, ICBC says in a media release that on average, 82 people died in speed-related crashed in the province every year. In the Southern Interior, the average is 28 deaths per year.
The Crown corporation has research that indicates a pedestrian hit by a vehicle going 40 km/h has a 90 per cent chance of surviving, while that rate drops to 50 per cent if the car is going 80 km/h.
“Speeding, failing to yield and unsafe lane changes are high-risk driving behaviours that put everyone at risk,” Chief Const. Neil Dubord with the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police says in the release. “Drivers have to be responsible for their actions, pay attention and focus on driving.”
Dubord say police will be out in full-force across B.C. this month “looking for drivers who feel the rules don’t apply to them.”
Along with officers handing out tickets, volunteers will be out with speed watch boards letting drivers know just how fast they are going.
“Driving over the speed limit really doesn’t get you there any faster and instead increases your chances of crashing,” Lindsay Matthews with ICBC says in the release.
RCMP in B.C. are also running a parallel campaign focusing on high risk driving. Officers will be looking for drivers speeding excessively, using electronic devices, following too close and other driving behaviours considered high risk.
“Driving is a complex, divided attention task and there are several easy things drivers can do to reduce risk to themselves, their families and other motorists,” Cpl. Mike Halskov with B.C. RCMP traffic services says in a release.
Vernon Speed Watch volunteers.
Image Credit: City of Vernon
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