Carbonear council delivers message to aggressive drivers
By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Carbonear councillors are asking drivers to slow it down.
At the November 25 council meeting, councillors addressed complaints they had received from residents pertaining to speeding. According to councillor Malcolm Seymour, who discussed the topic in his report as chairman of the public works and community services committee, speeding is not an issue on one street, but on many.
Seymour implored residents, if they have any regard for children, to slow down when driving. He noted speeding is even an issue in zones with hospitals and daycares.
Seymour, who works at the hospital, said he often sees vehicles speeding by in the night, and is tired of it. He reminded residents that the town operates on a 30 to 40 kilometre speed limit, and asked them to report any speeding they see to the RCMP.
Councillor Wendy Penney asked Seymour if his committee members had looked into any programs or campaigns relating to traffic control, as it is something they had planned to investigate.
Seymour said they had looked into the matter and expected it to be brought up at the next meeting. He said the Town’s director of public works and the economic development and tourism officer would be involved, and that they are considering contacting groups such MADD, Mothers Against Dunk Driving. He added that, when he was campaigning for council earlier this year, he said the Town would try to form a committee for the purpose of traffic control. He suggested they could install more speed meters around Carbonear, as well.
Later in the meeting, Deputy Mayor Fred Earle also commented on the speeding issue.
“I urge all residents to stop being so aggressive when they’re driving,” said Earle. “Basically, you’re only going to get from point A to point B, and you might save yourself a minute and a half.”
Earle said the miniscule amount of time saved by speeding is not worth the lifelong repercussions of harming someone in an accident.