If you’re not watching your speed, Ladysmith SpeedWatch is watching you.
The arm of Citizens on Patrol has just been given a new board, courtesy of ICBC, to show motorists how fast they are going.
This one, says Gus, one of the SpeedWatchers, is larger to remind ‘Visually Impaired’ motorists of their speed.
Unlike some speed boards around B.C., the Ladysmith SpeedWatch tag can come with penalties including a ticket if an RCMP officer is on scene.
This board is able to pick up the fastest driver and stays with them, said Gus.
SpeedWatch works with the RCMP to identify spots where there are a lot of speeding complaints, said Gus. They often stake out Chemainus Road and the highway near the airport.
“We can only help those that can be helped,” said Gus, noting the large sign does encourage some drivers to slow down.
There are a select few, he added, who don’t learn the lesson.
During a recent one-hour speed watch along the highway near the airport at total of 578 cars were recorded in the 80 km/h zone. Of the vehicles tagged, 464 were driving the speed limit or under, 58 were driving 81 km/h to 90 km/h, 40 were caught driving between 91-100km/h and eight were caught doing more than 101 km/h. The fastest speed in that hour was 107 km/h.
SpeedWatch also attends high-collision areas as requested by ICBC. In Ladysmith, the intersection at the Trans-Canada Highway and Davis Road South is considered a high-collision area.