Drivers' speeds are being clocked on the Sunshine Coast in an attempt to remind people to slow down to reduce accidents.
Speed Watch is made of a group of volunteers who set up a radar gun and speed-reader board to show drivers how fast they are going compared to the legal speed limit.
"We remind people that we do take speed seriously. It's not a game," said Jon Hird, Speed Watch co-ordinator. "People are driving on automatic."
Hird said sometimes he sits in an unmarked car and uses radar to capture how people drive in general because when they set up the speed board and stand on the side of the road in reflective orange vests, drivers tend to slow down as they would for an accident or work crew.
Hird and the other volunteers keep track of the speed of vehicles that pass them in five kilometre increments. ICBC uses the information to determine if Speed Watch works to slow drivers down.
At other times Sunshine Coast RCMP works in conjunction with Speed Watch in a "two-strike operation" where volunteers radar a vehicle that is speeding and police then pull drivers over further down the road to issue a warning or ticket.
Tom Webster is with the road safety division of ICBC.
"Speed Watch has a calming influence in general. Three out of four drivers will adjust their speed," Webster said.
The group sets up the speed board once a week or every two weeks at various locations, usually where there has been a high incidence of collisions.
"There are two boards for the whole corridor. Volunteers are given an orientation and training, then they set up where crashes have happened and speed has been a factor," said Webster.
The group is in need of new members to help run Speed Watch. Webster said volunteers must be 18 years old and go through training to qualify. He said it would be good experience to have on a resume if someone was looking to go into a law enforcement career. Contact Webster at [email protected].
