On Aug. 3, the recently installed traffic calming on O'Shea Road was given a trial when a unique musical event happened that hot, sunny day. Where street parking was available, we now have traffic calming barriers.
At the speed our climate is changing, how will residents be affected in winter? It is highly likely that a large percentage of our precipitation will be in the form of heavy, wet snow.
Last winter, eight to 10 foot high piles of snow were heaped on people's lawns, the street reduced to single-lane traffic. Hoping for rain to wash it away, they remained there for weeks, and snowplough operators added more while filling in driveways.
Traffic calmers were installed to force people to lower their speed in residential areas. One driver did not see the "calmer" in time and ended up driving over the sidewalk, a lawn and back onto the road. In snowy weather, with painted lines covered and barriers well hidden by snow, how many accidents and near-misses do authorities predict.
In Davis Bay, a uniformed man stands by the side of the highway with a sign reading slow down. Drivers respond and obey. They are surprised and never know where he may catch them speeding.
Would it not make greater economic and common sense to post the speed-limit in large, easy-to-read numbers in a prominent place, create a job or two by hiring a person to warn drivers, monitor traffic, record licence numbers of offending drivers and report to the authorities who would levy a fine.
Will the Town's engineering department and the Town council acknowledge their mistake and recognize the frustration and inconvenience they are inflicting upon the taxpayers who pay their salaries?
Eve Smart, Gibsons
