Did you know there were more than 18,000 motor vehicle crashes in Port Coquitlam between 2016 and 2020?
That's according to the latest ICBC stats available as most of those incidents involved speeding, high-risk driving or driving too fast for certain conditions.
Port Coquitlam is now hoping to create awareness on the issue across its neighbourhoods by distributing bright yellow decals in hopes it'll catch the attention of potential high-speed commuters and encourage them to slow down.
The Please Slow Down campaign is a team-up between the city, RCMP and ICBC — said to be a first-of-its kind in the Tri-Cities — and is offering free decals for local residents to place on their blue recycling collection bins for all to see.
"By working together on this campaign, we can all deliver a strong message to passing drivers that speeding is not acceptable in our streets," said Mayor Brad West in a release today (March 24), noting the initiative is part of council's priorities to keep the community safe.
"If someone is exceeding the speed limit, we hope these stickers will prompt them to immediately slow down. I encourage our community to get behind this initiative and order a sticker for your blue bin today."
According to ICBC, an average of 27 people die each year in the Lower Mainland from a motor vehicle crash where speeding was the main contributor.
Between 2016 and 2020, the corporation says there were 406 fatal victims of speed-related collisions across the province; 135 were recorded out of the Lower Mainland.
The yellow stickers have Please Slow Down is big bold lettering surrounded by a black square and include the logos of the RCMP and City of Port Coquitlam.
The city hopes that by designing them to be placed on homeowners' blue bins, which will be out prominently on collection days, it will help local drivers in oncoming traffic "become accustomed to them."
Interested residents can order a decal and find more information via the city's website.
You can also pick one up in person at specific locations, including:
- PoCo city hall (2564 Shaughnessy St.)
- Downtown Community Police Station (2581 Mary Hill Rd.)
- Northside Community Police Station (3312 Coast Meridian Rd.)
