Now that the school year has started, RCMP officers are looking to enforce speeding laws in school zones.
Nanaimo RCMP Const. Marty Kortas, traffic enforcement officer, and Const. Shrestin Sundar, school liaison officer, were at Departure Bay Eco-School on Wednesday, Sept. 6, enforcing school zone traffic laws.
Kortas said he patrols school zones multiple times a day, watching for speeders, those not wearing their seatbelt, and distracted drivers.
“Speeding is the No. 1 offence that we observe in these zones. Speeding is a considerable cause for injuries; the higher the speed, obviously, the greater the chance of severe injury,” said he said.
According to ICBC, seven children are injured in collisions in school zones every year on Vancouver Island.
“Make sure that you’re slowing for the school zones, construction zones, and pretty much every other place that’s got a posted speed limit,” he said.
Sundar said Departure Bay Road, as well as some other Nanaimo school zones, have issues with visibility due to road curves and corners, but “at the end of the day there is no excuse, because we have clear [school zone] signs here, so as soon as you see that sign, slow down right away.”
The officers agreed that they hadn’t observed an increase in school zone violations, and it’s remained “fairly steady.” Kortas hopes new crosswalks and the sidewalk expansion currently being built on Departure Bay Road will help make the road safer for both students and motorists.
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bailey.seymour@nanaimobulletin.com
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