‘Staggering’ number of tickets handed out

How bad are B.C. drivers? Pretty bad, if a traffic enforcement operation near Peachland last week is any indication. Kelowna RCMP said Monday that a team of officers with Central Okanagan Traffic Services conducted an operation last Thursday along Highway 97 south of Peachland, resulting in an abundance of tickets. The effort targeted drivers who failed to obey the rules of the roadway — specifically the need for motorists to slow down and move over when passing emergency vehicles stopped with their lights flashing. Officers working one kilometre away from a traffic sign along the highway reminding motorists of the traffic law had set up a marked police vehicle with its emergency lights on along the shoulder of the highway and observed the passing traffic, while using speed detectors to determine their speeds. “During only a two-hour period, enforcement officers issued a staggering number of 60 violation tickets to drivers who failed to slow to a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour when passing an emergency vehicle stopped with its emergency lights activated,” Const. Jesse O’Donaghey said. “All too often, the RCMP observe drivers who fail to immediately pull to the shoulder of the roadway to allow emergency vehicles to pass safely. Typically, the emergency vehicle is responding to an emergency situation and each second can make a difference.” Const. Chris Neid added that the law is essential because it “contributes to our safety when working roadside and ultimately keeps us going home to our families at the end of our shifts.” Drivers face a $173 fine for failing to slow down or move over near a stopped emergency vehicle.