'Slow down'... a phrase Tri-City drivers likely hear on a daily basis, but some appear to ignore it completely.
Recently, Coquitlam RCMP impounded an apparent Dodge Ram truck after motorcycle radar caught the driver going 148 km/h in a 50 zone.
The vehicle was seen excessively speeding along Coast Meridian Road, which resulted in an automatic tow.
Two months ago, a Ford Fusion was also impounded near the road's intersection with Lougheed Highway after radar clocked it in at 130 km/h in a 60 zone.
It's the latest in a series of traffic enforcement local Mounties have conducted throughout the summer as the season courts more lead-footed commuters.
In the month of June alone, Coquitlam's detachment issued nearly 600 tickets including:
- 401 = Speeding
- 109 = Distracted driving
- 42 = Intersection violations
- 31 = Seatbelts
- 12 = Impaired driving
And 104 of the recorded speeding tickets were issued in a single shift June 22, 2021, after RCMP did a road safety blitz and caught several commuters speeding in a playground zone, speeding in a construction zone and speeding in general areas.
While the total represents a 30% decrease compared to May, Const. John Graham tells the Tri-City News the numbers have remained fairly consistent month over month.
"There are many factors involved in the statistics for traffic offences, which could include staffing levels, other incidents/investigations which draw numbers from enforcement officers, training and specific targeted areas of enforcement," he said.
"The Coquitlam RCMP care greatly about public safety and ask that drivers follow the rules of the road in a safe and respectful manner."
In June 2020, Coquitlam Mounties issued 733 traffic violation tickets, including 484 for speeding.
ICBC says speed continues to be the top contributing factor in crash deaths with an average of 81 fatalities each year across the province.
CHAT WITH MOUNTIES
If you're looking to talk to RCMP about possible speedsters in your neighbourhood, Coquitlam Mounties are scheduled to make appearances in public parks and spaces this summer as part of an outreach campaign.
According to a news release, the aim is to “engage with the community in a positive manner, answer questions, take photos and hand out stickers” to children.
Local police will be at the following locations:
- Gates Park (2300 Reeve St., PoCo) = July 22
- Blue Mountain Park (975 King Albert Ave., Coquitlam) = July 29
- Coquitlam Central SkyTrain station (Lougheed and Barnet highways) = Aug. 5
- Veterans Park (2580 Shaughnessy St., PoCo) = Aug. 12
- Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) = Aug. 19
- Spirit Square (3000 Burlington Dr., Coquitlam) = Aug. 26
- Coquitlam Centre mall (2929 Barnet Hwy., Coquitlam) = Sept. 2
