Port Alberni city council is keeping an eye on the roads.
Mary Clare Massicotte, the city's manager of Community Safety & Social Development department, presented her quarterly report to council on Monday, April 14. As part of the community policing program, she explained that Speedwatch volunteers tracked 5,696 drivers over the first quarter of the year (January to March) and reported 633 drivers "driving in excess" to the RCMP.
Massicotte explained that, in this case, "driving in excess" means drivers who are exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 20 kilometres an hour. Warning letters have been issued to the registered owners of the cars by the RCMP.
Councillor Charles Mealey said it was "disturbing" to see such a high number, especially since some of the drivers were recorded speeding in school zones.
Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions agreed, noting that Port Alberni's wide roads make drivers more likely to speed.
“We are making a concerted effort to narrow roadways when we re-do them,” said Minions. “We will be re-doing them to a new standard that is more pedestrian-focused, and not the ability to drive as fast as you want. But in the meantime, we really appreciate that the volunteers are out there.”
Mealey acknowledged that some members of the public are not happy about these traffic calming measures, which include curb extensions, widened sidewalks and bike lanes.
“We’re trying our best to make sure people stay alive,” said Mealey. “We’re not trying to inconvenience someone turning a corner with a boat trailer, but there are reasons why these are being done. There are so many people driving in excess, and these traffic calming designs are meant to combat that.”
