West Kelowna

Apparently, for some Okanagan motorists, the only way they will slow down is if an RCMP officer issues them a ticket.

While many drivers will slow down if they see a speed reader board on the side of the road indicating they're going too fast, not everyone gets the message.

Photo: Grant Scott

Drivers don't always slow down even when they know they're speeding.

On Thursday, August 30, 15 Speedwatch volunteers from West Kelowna and Peachland, along with four RCMP Central Okanagan Traffic Services members teamed up to conduct a Speed enforcement initiative in Peachland.

Four Speedwatch teams set up in four different areas in and around Peachland with their familiar marked vehicles and radar speed reader boards.

The four RCMP members set up a little further down the road with laser speed readers to catch motorists who either ignored the Speedwatch teams, or sped up after passing by at posted speeds.

Cst. Steve Holmes reports that in a 90 minute period, 13 tickets for speeding were served to drivers who seconds before found out they were speeding.

A 12 hour driving suspension was also given as was a Notice and Order for a defective vehicle, tickets for Driving Contrary to Restrictions and for driving through a yellow light at an intersection.

In announcing the results of this latest blitz, Holmes called the Speedwatch Program "an effective tool that benefits police and the public, not only by providing a physical roadside presence, but also by gathering useful traffic data that assists police in targeting specific problem areas."

He adds that some drivers never seem to learn.

"There are many drivers on interior roadways whose apathy and disregard for other road users poses the greatest threat to Public safety, and is reflected in the multiple police contacts recorded in their driving histories. Through ongoing traffic enforcement projects it is the RCMP's goal to change these behaviours with consequences applied through the Motor Vehicle Act, thereby reducing the collisions that can result in injury or death."