Nanaimo RCMP were out in front of Departure Bay Elementary on Wednesday reminding drivers to slow down in school zones.
According to RCMP constable Martin Kortas who was checking the speed of cars as they drove past, speeding in a school zone could cost you anywhere from $196 to almost $500 depending how fast you are clocked.
Officers are also checking for distracted drivers using their cell phones when behind the wheel, which could earn drivers a $368 ticket and four points off their licence.
“Please observe the law,” he said. “We have all these little children out here and parents who want to get to and from their school with as little disruption as possible.”
Kortas says that most people are checking their speed in the 30 km school zones, which is in force from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“I’ve only had to have a conversation with one or two motorists in the last few days and I’ve not issued any violation tickets,” he said.
Minutes after saying that he clocked a car going 20 km over the speed limit and pulled the driver over for a stern chat by the roadside. This time the driver was lucky and Kortas let him off with a warning to slow down in school zones instead of an expensive ticket.
The road in front of Departure Bay Elementary has been a long-time concern for parents and neighbourhood residents.
In July, Nanaimo city council allocated $365,000 in funding to build a sidewalk on the south side of the street in front of the school.
At the city’s governance and priorities committee meeting on July 17 Coun. Ben Gesselbract said he has navigated the narrow paved shoulder himself in the past.
“I personally have had to walk with kids across to Wardropper park when my brother was teaching the school for a while there and it’s a super sketchy stretch of road. That’s why the bollards have been put up and it just requires more permanent infrastructure.”
Staff estimates that the project, which is part of a larger $1 million package of pedestrian improvements across the city, will take approximately two years to complete.
Constable Kortas says he is happy to hear about the planned improvements to the sidewalk.
“Anything that will improve pedestrian and or motor safety in the city, I’m absolutely thrilled to hear about.”
