Vernon resident fears it is a matter of time someone dies on Pleasant Valley Road

Photo: Nick Karys

Recent accident at the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road and Silver Star Road.

Vernon resident Nick Karys feels it is just a matter of time before someone loses their life due to speeding motorists.

Karys lives near Butcher Boys on Pleasant Valley Road, which he says has become a speed zone over the years.

He fears a child will be struck by a speeding vehicle as they try to cross the street.

Karys, who has lived on PV Road since 1995, said the situation is getting worse and not a day goes by where he does not hear the screeching of tires, sounding another close call.

A recent accident resulted in a car landing on its roof at the intersection of PV Road and Silver Star Road.

“We have emailed the city probably 20 times,” Karys said about his quest to have something done about the dangerous situation.

Karys said he has also contacted the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP about it. He said police have conducted enforcement blitz in the area, but it is not slowing people down.

He believes part of the problem is drivers coming off Highway 97 and making their way onto Pleasant Valley Road at the north end of town and are still driving at highway speeds when they enter the side road.

“We see cars going 70 and 80 kilometres an hour in a 50 zone,” Karys said, adding drivers come off the Highway at Stickle Road and treat Pleasant Valley Road “like a thoroughfare.”

The problem is compounded by a marked increase in traffic in the area.

“A lot of the issue is people trying to pull out of Butcher Boys and people will be speeding and have to swerve off the road and almost hit a kid,” he said. “It has happened several times here.”

Karys said a speeder, dodging a vehicle coming out of Butcher Boys, hit his neighbour's fence a few weeks ago.

In the early 2000s, Karys said area residents were working with the RDNO about some form of speed mitigation, but the area is now part of the City of Vernon.

“We've got a lot of kids in the area now and they try to cross the street, cars are doing 70-80 and we hear them lock the brakes. I hear it at least once a day,” he said.

“We have begged the city speed bumps, crosswalks, signage – anything but they just pass it to the RCMP. The RCMP have been more helpful than the city. We have been consistently advocating for years for the installation of speed bumps or a crosswalk to protect children and stop incidents like these.”

City of Vernon spokesperson Carolyn Baldridge said the city is aware of the complaints along Silver Star and Pleasant Valley roads.

"Currently, the city is conducting a traffic study that examines different types of treatments or interventions to reduce speed. The City of Vernon is currently updating our transportation plan, with safety as a key principle guiding this process. We are reviewing speed-management strategies to better understand their impact on traffic safety. As the data comes in, a decision will be made based on the best transportation planning practices and data," Baldridge said in an email.

"Road safety is a shared responsibility that involves every member of our community. Drivers are reminded that when you're behind the wheel, your vehicle can take someone's life or cause serious harm."