The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Submitted by Creighton RCMP In recent weeks the Town of Creighton has expressed growing concern regarding speeding along Creighton Avenue and other streets in the community. Police have become aware of this issue through consultation with town council and through reported traffic complaints. In addition, a letter was forwarded to the Creighton RCMP detachment detailing driving and parking issues along Elander Avenue. As a result of these and other complaints, Creighton RCMP are stepping up enforcement. Along Creighton Avenue, the posted speed limit is 50 km/h, and other avenues and streets that are unposted have an urban speed limit of 40 km/h. Summary offence tickets are being issued for speeding and other infractions, including stunting, distracted driving and failing to stop at stop signs. Many of us can become complacent in our driving and forget to properly obey the rules of the road. For some who have lived in town for a long time, it is also easy to overlook speed limit signs or stop signs. A lot of people ask the police what threshold they consider when issuing a ticket for an offence. The short answer to this question is that if you have been issued a ticket, it is likely for a good reason. The longer answer is that just about anyone can receive a ticket at just about any time _ legally. Simply driving 51 km/h in a posted 50 km/h zone is by definition an offence under the Traffic Safety Act, as the legislation does not allow for tolerances and simply states something to the effect of 'driver exceeds posted speed limit.' In most legislation, police have discretion in issuing tickets and must use their judgment in regard for the totality of a situation. Therefore, the same peace officer might only issue tickets for those exceeding the speed limit by 20 km/h in a particular speed limit zone on a fine spring day, and in the same zone he or she might issue a ticket for 10 km/h over the limit should it be freezing rain. Alternatively, speeding in a school zone or in an area of high pedestrian traffic would likely result in less discretion being used. For stop signs it is a good rule to come to a complete stop prior to turning. Many vehicles are observed doing a 'California' or a 'rolling' stop, and these technically could receive a ticket for failing to stop. A good rule to remember is that your vehicle should stop enough to come to a complete rest, which the driver and occupants can feel as a sort of rocking motion. Issue tickets Again, police will issue tickets based on the totality of the situation, including the amount of vehicle traffic in the area and the potential consequences of an accident. Police have recently focused on speeding offences along the section of Creighton Avenue leading to the abrupt turn onto the 167 Highway to Denare Beach. The speed limit in this area goes from 90 km/h to 70 km/h, finally to 50 km/h just prior to entering the town limits. Many speeders fail to slow down when entering this dangerous corner, or they then begin to accelerate well above the speed limit along this section of the roadway driving into town. Up until the turn on King Crescent there are few residential buildings, but drivers are to be reminded that many pedestrians walk their dogs along the roadway. As well, ATVs and snow machines follow paths along the avenue and parallel to the highway. At any given time there is the danger that a distracted or speeding driver will be involved in a potentially life-threatening accident. In addition, police are attempting to slow drivers down prior to them entering the section of Creighton Avenue where there are more children walking on sidewalks or bicycling. Please be patient with police as their efforts continue. If you have any concerns regarding traffic safety or ideas about potential areas for further enforcement, please contact the Creighton RCMP detachment. The goal of these efforts is to meet the requests of the residents in our communities and to protect our children and families. Unsafe driving should be reported to the police, whether it be dangerous driving, speeding or distracted driving. A simple speeding ticket may later have saved someone's life.
