Public On Better Behaviour on Highways Over Long Weekend

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 04:54 AM

Prince George, B.C. - The RCMP say the drving public is to be credited for making the highways throughout North District a little safer over the long weekend,

Police enforcement units noticed lower average speeds on the highways and fewer complaints of aggressive driving. The police feel an increased police visibility on the roadways also played a large part in making the roadways safer.

The Labour Day Long Weekend ended with NO fatal motor vehicle collisions and only one serious injury single vehicle collision in the Dawson Creek area. Throughout the North, the Traffic Services units increased their presence on the highways to increase the risk of apprehension for those drivers engaging in aggressive driving behaviour.

In the Prince George area, as many as twelve (12) traffic enforcement units were on shift, at the same time, on Monday, conducting traffic enforcement on the area highways, extending from Prince George.

This past long weekend had more police vehicles on the road, but didn't necessarily mean a more violation tickets. The poor weather and road conditions translated into lower speeds on the highway and less aggressive driving. Most drivers recognized the conditions were less than favourable and slowed down.

Despite the media coverage, police warnings and increased police visibility on the roadways, a number of motorists were stopped by the police and charged for a variety of offences, and despite some drivrs being pulled over and ticketed for speeding, they were caught again further along the same highway for speeding again. "I had one guy stopped for going 130" says Sergeant Pat McTiernan, "Then he heads back on the highway and gets stopped by another officer for speeding, at ....130"

Stats on the charges delivered from 12:00 am Friday morning to Monday night at 11:59 pm. are outlined below:

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2008 04:54 AM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: MoneKate on September 3 2008 7:37 AM

A.K.A. revenue down, have to hide in bushes to generate revenue!!

Posted by: rambleon on September 3 2008 8:13 AM

Too bad they never stuck 11 of those 12 enforcement units on a project that would actually benefit our community instead of help pay their wages for the weekend.

Posted by: lostfaith on September 3 2008 9:06 AM

So whats your point McTiernan?
Obviously the person could give two hoots about getting caught twice for doing 130.
Most of todays vehicles are very capable of travelling much faster than 130 and very safely. The speed limits posted these days are archaic. We don't drive 1937 fords anymore.
If the person was driving safely IE: not dangerously,30 kmh over the limit isn't a problem. All this speeding ticket BS is about is revenue generation. If speed limits were increased to more realistic levels it would reduce Govt revenue.
It isn't speed that kills, it's unskilled drivers that speed who kill.

Posted by: Death to Socialism on September 3 2008 9:42 AM

You are absolutly dead on, lostfaith. Anyone that has a large distance to cover would do exactly the same thing. I for one am not driving all the way to Edmonton or Vancouver at 90km/h, I'd nod off after the first hour.

Posted by: The_grandinquisitor on September 3 2008 2:38 PM

Y'know most traffic cops have a tolerancefor how fast a person can go before they pull someone over, but if guys like lostfaith and Death to socialism are doing 130 in a 90 or 100 zone then they deserve the tickets. Hope you got deep pockets boys.

Posted by: metalman on September 3 2008 2:55 PM

I tend to agree with your statement Lostfaith, about unskilled drivers, and about the fact that todays' cars (& trucks) are capable of higher speeds, my diesel pick up cruises very comfortably at 130 km/h, although I don't normally travel that fast on B.C. highways, I can't afford the cost of the tickets. I have put many miles on u.s. superslabs in the same truck doing 130 all day long (except in washington and oregon) mileage does not change significantly at those speeds because I am travelling mostly empty, no load. I drove a chev 4 x 4 in the seventies that would cruise at 130
(81 mph) too, but you sure knew it, the noise and vibration went way up at high speed, and gas mileage went waaay down.
The newer pickups I think could probably travel at 160 km/h all day and hardly break into a sweat. Today's vehicles are better than ever, but the problem is still with unskilled drivers.
metalman.

Posted by: Death to Socialism on September 3 2008 3:14 PM

Cost of doing business, Mr Inquisitor, just like gas, maintenance insurance etc.

Think of it as a luxury tax I guess.

Posted by: The_grandinquisitor on September 3 2008 5:08 PM

Ha ha..one you can't deduct as a buisness expense I'll wager.

Posted by: lostfaith on September 3 2008 6:47 PM

The_grandinquisitor

I haven't had a ticket in the last 15 years. Due to the fact that I am a very skilled driver that pays attention to what I am doing while being in control of a motorvehicle. Though I am a fast driver, there will always be, and I mean ALWAYS BE other drivers out on the hwy with me that will drive way faster than I do that don't know how to use other drivers as radar detectors. You see it not only pays to pay attention and have great driving skills, it also pays to be a smart driver as well.

Posted by: acrider54 on September 3 2008 7:25 PM

I have to agree with lostfaith, Death to Socialism and metalman. I do believe speed limits are to slow in this day and age. 110-120 should not be a problem with newer vehicles these days.

The drivers (imo) who cause accidents are the vehicles that are travelling 5-10k under the speed limit. They create long lineups and those are the drivers that should be given tickets. Look in your mirror once in a while (RVers) and other slow drivers and if you see four or five vehicles on your butt, pull over and let them pass instead of seeing just how much of a parade you can get going.

I drive over 5,000km's per month on area highways and get very frustrated with the odd driver who likes to hold up traffic.

If your holding up traffic in the left lane move your ass over to the right and let traffic proceed.

What really gets me is the drivers who drive up passing lanes where signs say "Keep right except to pass" stay in the left lane and drive the same speed as the person in the right. Make you pass and pull over, you are the drivers that are a hinderence.

Sorry longwinded today, is it Friday?

Posted by: heidi1555 on September 3 2008 8:50 PM

Speed kills no matter how well of a driver you claim to be or how kick a$$ you think your pickup is. We all think we're excellent drivers. You don't hear many people walking around saying how eh hemmm of a driver they are. We all can have our bad moments/bad days in driving as we're human not robots...even then something could dart out in front of you and no time to react. There is always something bigger and greater out there that can knock you down on your butts. What if a tire blows? blah blah blah....

Posted by: lostfaith on September 3 2008 10:51 PM

Sure Heidi knock the wind out of my sails.
I actually had people agreeing with me. Shame on you. ;)
I know what your saying but not only am I a really good driver I am also a certified mechanic that keeps my equipment in top operating condition.
Sorry but the Govt has everyone brainwashed to believe that what they say is in fact the way it really is. Remember the sheep theory, or you are what you eat.
When you are told something day after day after day you tend to believe it. I am one who likes to think for myself as I don't have much faith in others. If you are more comfortable driving at the posted speeds thats fine and thats your choice. However I still think the speed limits we have today are simply an easy money grab because many people will drive faster than the posted speed because it is very safe to do so in the right conditions. Paying attention no matter what speed you drive at is the key to a safe trip. The Govt keeps the limits down at a place where it's easy for them to get your money.

Remember the saying money isn't everything?
Thats a lie.
I know this because everyone keeps trying to take mine. They are the ones that make the laws that makes it easy for them to get as much of my money as they can.
That tells me it's pretty important stuff

Posted by: The_grandinquisitor on September 4 2008 5:44 AM

Ok lostfaith, have it your way...beam you later!

Posted by: heidi1555 on September 4 2008 7:37 AM

lol...sorry lostfaith I just like you guys and want you to smarten up!!! ;)

I know the pain of being in a car accident. I was going down the hart highway a black jeep in a field of white and this elderly lady pulled out onto highway as if I wasn't there????? I had my lights on and was doing limit because of conditions. She honestly said she didn't see me. So things happen. I t-boned her that's how close I was to her when she pulled out. No time. Very glad I was doing app. 70 or I wouldn't be here to nag you. lol..

Posted by: MrPG on September 4 2008 9:25 AM

People always over estimate their driving abilities. Nobody wants to believe they're a bad driver.

If you make the speed limits 110 km/h, people will travel 120-130 km/h, which in general, is too fast for BC roads. There is simply not enough time to react if you had to do it quickly.

As someone noted above, the cops have a tolerance of about 10 km/h before they'll pull you over. With the speed limit on most highways at 100 km/h, you can travel just under 110 km/h and that is fast enough.

Posted by: lostfaith on September 4 2008 12:43 PM

People are already doing 130 in the 100 zone.
Who says it's too fast for BC Rds, You?
Oh you are just repeating what you have been told, ok.

Reaction time, speed, road and weather conditions are all relative.
I wouldn't do 130 just for the sake of doing 130.
It's called using your brain. Unfortunately for some they have not developed this skill and must rely on what they are told is the "correct" thing to do.

Posted by: Death to Socialism on September 4 2008 12:54 PM

Stop making sense, Lost, it frightens the sheeple.

Posted by: MrPG on September 4 2008 1:18 PM

Oh, I know there are people who excessively speed. Who says travelling at 130 km/h is safe? You? See where I'm going with this?

Yes, lostfaith, I understand that you believe you're a great driver incapable of making a mistake. There's no shortage of people who believe the same as you who cause lots of accidents as well.

I will agree with your point about using your common sense. As I've found out common sense isn't all that common.

Posted by: Death to Socialism on September 4 2008 1:25 PM

Aren't you, Mr PG, also impling that you are a great driver who never causes accidents? The simple fact is that speed limits have never changed to reflect the VAST improvements in automobile safety. Why? I happen to agree with Lost that it has everything to do with ticket revenues.

Posted by: MrPG on September 4 2008 2:02 PM

Nope, not at all. I have never caused an accident in 20+ years of driving, but I'd never be so bold as to say that I never will cause one.

As far as speed limits go, cars and roads have indeed changed for the better, but I don't believe a human's reaction time or driving skill is any better than it was 30-50 years ago.

And before anyone misunderstands, I am totally opposed to speed traps that are there purely for revenue generation (we all know where those are in this town). I think there's a part of speed enforcement that's about revenue, but there's also a part about safety and accident reduction.

I'm not opposed to speed enforcement in school zones and other high-accident stretches of road where it's been found that people are driving too fast for the conditions.

There are definitely stretches of road in PG where the speed limit is too low. And for example, the 50 km/h limit on many residential streets is too high.