Coquitlam traffic cops were busy during February.
And the latest stats show (literally) thousands of drivers throughout those 28 days that continue to ignore posted speed limits, road signs and the safety of others.
According to RCMP spokesperson S/Sgt. Mark McCutcheon, a total of 464 violation tickets were issued from 1,411 contacts that were made from police with commuters at various points in the region.
Radars and telescopes from High Accident Zone Enforcement (HAZE) were set up primarily along Lougheed Highway (7) and the Mary Hill Bypass (7B).
There were 334 Coquitlam drivers that were caught committing an offence under the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) that put themselves and the public at risk.
The high-risk areas were as follows:
- 79 = Lougheed and Pinetree Way
- 63 = Lougheed and Alderson Avenue
- 62 = Como Lake Avenue and Fowler Court
As well, 130 tickets were written up along the Mary Hill Bypass in that same span.
And McCutcheon said that stretch will still be a big target for HAZE officers as it hosts one of B.C.'s most dangerous intersections at Broadway Street — 135 collisions in 2021 and 858 since 2017.
In fact, one speedster clocked 131 km/h near that very intersection during RCMP's latest initiative, which is a 70 km/h zone limit when travelling Highway 7B (see photo above).
"Coquitlam RCMP Traffic Services worked hard to ensure that everyone made it home to see their Valentine during the month of February," the Coquitlam RCMP traffic services commander added in a release today (April 4).
"We hope through public awareness and these enforcement campaigns we can encourage the public to practice safe driving habits."
Highway 7 between United Boulevard and Como Lake Avenue will also be a high-priority area for Mounties, McCutcheon said.
Since 2017, there have been 867 known collisions along the corridor
The HAZE team's February ticket total was an 18 per cent increase compared to the 392 in January, given to offenders in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.
The initiative, along with High Visibility Enforcement (HVE), started Jan. 8 and is RCMP hope it'll act as a reminder of the consequences of poor driving behaviour.
Already, traffic cops have conducted HVE canvassing for speed, distracted driving, impaired driving, invalid licenses and failing to wear seat belts.
Meanwhile, Coquitlam RCMP's remaining April schedule for its HAZE and HVE enforcement teams is as follows:
April 6
- Como Lake Avenue and Mariner Way, Coquitlam
- Team enforcement for speed
April 7
- Highway 7B / Mary Hill Bypass
- Team enforcement targeting speed
April 8
- Coquitlam Centre
- Team enforcement for impaired driving
April 9
- Highway 7B / Mary Hill Bypass
- Team enforcement for speed
April 14
- Coquitlam
- Team enforcement targeting unlicensed and prohibited drivers
April 15
- Highway 7B / Mary Hill Bypass
- Team enforcement
April 16
- Coquitlam parks and playgrounds
- Team enforcement
April 17
- Highway 7B / Mary Hill Bypass, Broadway Street and Coast Meridian Road
- Team enforcement in high volume areas
April 22
- Belcarra Bay Road, Belcarra
- Team enforcement
April 23
- Port Coquitlam
- Team enforcement targeting child occupant restraints
April 24
- Coquitlam
- Team enforcement
April 25
- Port Coquitlam
- Joint team enforcement for commercial vehicle inspections
April 30
- Coquitlam
- Team enforcement targeting impaired driving
