Watching your speed

Photo: Contributed

When safe community co-ordinator Mike Moyer joined the North Okanagan Regional District last year, he knew speeding was a major concern for residents — specifically, the rate of speed in which some drivers travel through school zones.

Moyer created a partnership with ICBC to take more of a "prevention" approach to the speed issue.  

ICBC has a designated program in which volunteers from the community use portable speed radar equipment and big flashing reader boards give you instant feedback on how fast you're driving.

Volunteers are seen near high-crash locations.

The program itself isn't new, the regional district has used it before, but Moyer has decided to enhance it.

"I have decided to go out to some of the user groups like the school PAC groups and any other groups or individuals interested."

Moyer recently teamed up with a community group from Parker Cove as well the PAC groups from Hillview Elementary and BX Elementary.

"We want to reduce the speed in the communities, but we also want to have the community involved. It has been very successful."

In the Hillview area, volunteers went out three or four times during the fall. Moyer said at that time, 65 per cent of the vehicles observed were driving 10 or more kilometres above the posted school zone speed limit of 30 km/h.

"The data is collected and sent to ICBC, who then sends it to the RCMP so it can be used in a more targeted enforcement." 

Moyer is hoping to work with all school groups within the electoral area, but said he is willing to work with any interested party.

"I hope with this education we get more people interested and trained and eventually we can get more equipment and it is then placed in different spots in the Okanagan."

The cost to run the program is minimal. ICBC provides the equipment, the regional district maintains it and works out the logistics regarding the training.