It was "three strikes, you're out" for several motorists passing through Hixon earlier this week.
Citizens on Patrol and the Prince George RCMP's traffic section teamed up for about two hours on Tuesday to not only warn drivers who were going too fast but issue tickets to those who chose to ignore those warnings while passing through the community on Highway 97 South.
It was "strike one" for those who failed to slow down to the posted limit, "strike two" for those who turned a blind eye to the COPS digital display showing how fast they were actually going, and "strike three" for those still going too fast by the time they had reached an RCMP speed trap.
Of the 737 drivers went who through the small community 60 kilometres south of Prince George, dozens were found traveling over the posted speed and 28 exceeded the limit by more than 15 km/h.
Several violation tickets were served, including one for going nearly 40 km/h over the posted limit of 60 km/h.
Over the most recent weekend, speed watch stations were also set up on Foothills Boulevard and Tyner Boulevard in Prince George. Of the 1,300 vehicles observed, 243 were traveling above the posted limit. Violators can expect a warning letter in the mail.
"The Prince George RCMP will continue to target high risk drivers in communities we police, including Hixon," said Cpl. Craig Douglass. "Targeting these offenders and teaching children how to watch for hazards will make our community safer, reducing tragedies on our roads."
Here are some tips for driving safely and avoiding a fine or worse:
- Slow down as you approach intersections and remember that a yellow light means you should stop if you can do so safely;
- When making a left turn, be extra careful and always yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. Always use your turn signal well before you make a move - it helps others know what you're doing;
- Leave enough space between your car and the one in front of you so you have more time to react to the unexpected;
- Shoulder check for cyclists before turning right or pulling away from a curb and watch for oncoming cyclists before turning left;
- As the weather gets warmer, more motorcyclists will be hitting the road so be on the lookout, especially when turning left. Motorcyclists are hard to see and it can be difficult to judge their speed and intentions, so the safest thing to do is yield the right of way.
