Putting lives on the line and risking a huge fine isn’t enough to stop some drivers from speeding through school zones.
At least that seems to be the case in Port Coquitlam, where a vehicle was spotted ripping through a school zone in front of Irvine Elementary on Wellington Street Monday morning (Nov. 29).
The heart-stopping video, caught by security camera, shows the driver of an apparent Jeep speeding through an intersection just seconds after it was crossed by a group of young children.
The vehicle doesn't appear to slow down even though many people are seen on the sidewalk, including parents parking their vehicles to let children out.
It’s not the first time Jennie Soares, has seen drivers speeding in front of the school.
Many times she’s witnessed vehicles driving through at speeds much higher than the 30 km/h required for a school zone.
“The amount of near misses is terrifying, including three separate [near miss] occasions for my kids and myself,” said Soares, whose children attend the school.
Irvine elementary is in the midst of a construction zone for a $24.3-million replacement building for about 500 Kindergarten to Grade 5 students and there have been other traffic issues in the area as a result.
Soares suspects the lack of signage may be one reason drivers don’t slow down.
However, perhaps some drivers are simply oblivious to the fact they are passing by a school.
Coquitlam RCMP said traffic enforcement is ongoing at Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam schools and there has been at least one complaint at this school.
“They are definitely aware of the complaint and working on that type of complaint in the school zone,” said Cpl. Paige Armstrong, who said someone form the area called in a traffic safety complaint to the police department earlier this week.
With poor weather and low visibility, drivers are encouraged to be extra careful.
Last month, a 25-year-old woman died in hospital from injuries sustained after she was hit by a car at the intersection of Shaughnessy Street and Lobb Avenue.
Fines for speeding in a school zone range from $196 for speeds one to 20 km over the 30 km/h limit and $253 for 21 to 40 km/h over the speed zone.
Port Coquitlam has responded to the Tri-City News' request for information and states that while it did not take down school signs, it did ask the contractors to put them back up. The signs were to be installed as of Friday, Dec.3.
As well, the city plans to install a raised crosswalk at Wellington Street to improve traffic safety in front of the school.
- with a file from Kyle Balzer, Tri-City News
