Slow down on roads

For all drivers who think it is fine to exceed the speed limit, be aware, your days are numbered.

The new officer in charge of the RCMP in Kelowna is aware we have been without enforcement for far too long, and a crackdown has began.

The RCMP have new unmarked and hard to identify police vehicles staffed with RCMP officers who know speed is a major issue in Kelowna and a major factor in almost all traffic collisions.

And, it isn't just speed they want to get you for. A lot of drivers feel the need to follow (the vehicle in front of theirs) too closely, rarely stop at stop signs and coast through and fail to stop when turning right at a red light.

Those behaviours, along with distracted driving and general carelessness, are all being targeted.

Remember, police officers can be anywhere at any time and are paying attention. With every traffic ticket comes penalty points and ICBC will gladly increase your premiums after you are issued those points.

Not only is this (driving) behaviour dangerous and costly, in an urban environment drivers gain little but risk quite a bit.

Don't believe me? The next time you feel the need for speed, pay attention to the vehicles around you. You may race between lights but due to clever signal timing, speeding doesn't pay. This is intentional.

Unfortunately intelligence is in short supply and drivers continue to put themselves and everyone around them at a greater risk of injury. Not only that. In doing so, drivers causes excessive wear and tear on their vehicles, and burn excessive amounts of expensive fuel yet sit at each traffic light next to the same vehicle.

If you don't believe me, you simply are not paying attention. Adults need to behave as such and young drivers need to be taught what is safe behaviour and what is not, before it is too late.

Some people never get a second chance to instill safe driving behaviour in their children and end up regretting that for a very long time.

Troy Gangl