In September 2020, Dean Schick (our city transportation manager) was quoted in the Gazette as saying, “By reducing speed limits and with strong compliance, it would be expected and fair to say that we could possibly see a reduction in collision occurrences.“
Despite 57 per cent of citizens indicating they were not for reduced speed limits, city council has once again chosen to ignore the feedback that they received from the people they represent, even after asking for their thoughts.
I question how Mr. Schick and city council intends for compliance to occur? I have read many things about the changes, yet nowhere have I seen any enforcement plan being discussed. Will photo radar be the cornerstone of this traffic plan? The anticipated coming massive spike in photo radar revenue for the city will simply be explained as a necessary step to keep our roads and pedestrians safe.
If our current city council is really concerned about traffic safety and reducing both injuries and collisions, they would disband the photo radar program in its entirety and double the size of the manned traffic units in both the RCMP and the municipal officer program. Officers personally handing out tickets with the included demerits will quickly change drivers' actions and quickly increase compliance. Leaving the enforcement to photo radar units further indicates that our council is more interested in the fine revenue and less interested in actually making the roads safer for all of its users.
Brian Low
