Drivers on the West Shore received heartfelt reminders earlier this week of whatB次元官网网址檚 really at stake when they speed through school zones.
As part of ICBCB次元官网网址檚 campaign, dozens of elementary school students from Ruth King Elementary in Langford and Hans Helgesen Elementary in Metchosin created B次元官网网址淭hink of MeB次元官网网址� cards, which were then handed out to drivers passing by the schools on Tuesday. The message: slow down in school zones.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one thing to get a ticket. ItB次元官网网址檚 another thing to get a message hand-drawn by a child. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 pretty impactful. It shows the humanity side behind the issue and itB次元官网网址檚 not just receiving a ticket for a violation. ItB次元官网网址檚 a school expressing their concerns about safety and kids want to be safe in their community,B次元官网网址� said Colleen Woodger, ICBC road safety co-ordinator
| Const. Matthew Baker of the West Shore RCMP hands out cards on Tuesday that were coloured by students at Hans Helgensen Elementary school to drivers as part of ICBC's Think of Me campaign, which reminds drivers to slow down in school zones. Officers handed out cards to drivers by Ruth King elementary earlier this day as well. (Kendra Wong/B次元官网网址 Gazette staff) |
B次元官网网址淲hen you bring enforcement and education together, our ultimate goal is to create behaviour change.B次元官网网址�
RELATED:
In partnership with the West Shore RCMPB次元官网网址檚 traffic unit, officers handed out 250 cards to drivers in a 45-minute period at Ruth King and 200 cards at Hans Helgesen, while also educating drivers about their speed and distracted driving.
According to Woodger, school staff and members of parent advisory committees have expressed concerns about speeders along Jacklin and Rocky Point roads in recent months, with some drivers going 20 kilometres over the posted 30 km/h speed limit. She hopes the campaign will remind drivers to slow down in school zones between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Const. Matthew Baker of the West Shore RCMP said warning drivers they are in school zones will help reduce speeding issues in the future. B次元官网网址淢etchosin is growing and this [Rocky Point Road] is quite a busy street,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f we can get to those people early and let them know that they are going through a school zone, these are the fines that you are liable for if you are caught speeding, then we can nip this problem in the bud before it becomes a bigger issue and most importantly before anyone gets hurt.B次元官网网址�
The campaign is part of ICBCB次元官网网址檚 safer school travel program. It originated in Vancouver a few years ago and Woodger brought the program to Greater Victoria last year. A number of schools throughout the Capital Region and south Vancouver Island are also participating. Drivers caught going 31 to 50 kilometres in 30 km/h speed zones are subjected to a $196 fine and three points. Drivers caught going 51 to 70 km/h could be hit with a $253 fine.
Like us on and follow us on
