Dear Editor,
Re: "Richmond resident pleads for action on River Road after Thursday's crash"
Again, another photo capture and vehicle accident article in the Richmond News this week.
I can travel anywhere in Richmond on a daily basis, and see cars performing unsafe acts of disregard to themselves and others.
I routinely witness the impatient change of lane risks while a car ahead is stopped on a congested busy thoroughfare, waiting to cross a double line.
Quite often, cars do not fully stop at stop signs, or back blindly onto busy roadways, with no thought else equally at fault is speeding down on them.
Speeding in excess of 20 to 40 kilometres over posted limits are constant on Steveston Hwy, No. 1 and No. 2 roads, where frequently the News reports another needless crash.
I can go on and on with personally seen traffic violations any layman will witness daily, my point being where are the police/ when is enough enough, folks!
Surely our detachment can justify the cost of an added manned ghost vehicle and traffic-only police monitoring. Any business case factoring up to $20,000 weekly in traffic fines not only justifies added equipment and manpower but will mitigate the reckless and dangerous individuals from our streets; where families, children, bicycles and pedestrians frequent.
I would like to see a response from ICBC and our RCMP department why this craziness is tolerated. I’m not the only concerned citizen.
I drove professionally for 50 years throughout the G.V.R.D. and by far Richmond is the worst municipality with daily observable incidents of traffic violations.
There’s also a Richmond Facebook site highlighting the numerous times our mutual daily concerns occur with violating drivers, with no regard towards any harm.
Increased fines, longer suspensions, automatic defensive driving course (after at-fault accident’s determined) and banning lane changes on Highway 91 from No. 7 road to Nelson Road overpasses would all help if the RCMP cost budget is more important than public safety.
Robin Todd
Steveston Richmond
