Drivers in 100 Mile House are being asked to slow down as complaints of speeders throughout the municipality accumulate at the district office.
Mayor Mitch Campsall says he and other district representatives recently met with South Cariboo Citizens on Patrol (COPS), 100 Mile House & District Soccer Association (OMHSA) and RCMP members to discuss the growing problem of lead-footed drivers.
The off-highway speed limit within the municipal boundaries is almost exclusively 30 kilometres per hour, Campsall notes, yet many drivers are consistently driving at 50-60 km/h and beyond.
The issue has been reported to council by several concerned residents, as well as the OMHSA, which Campsall says is actively highlighting the problem and also sent a letter to parents and coaches.
While the soccer association is concerned about speeders in the north-east end of town near the soccer fields, he says this is an issue throughout the municipality.
Campsall explains one action resulting from the meeting is that COPS volunteers will be placing speed boards through the district, near the soccer fields and elsewhere, to visually notify drivers of their speed as they pass.
The RCMP also agreed to step up patrols to monitor and potentially ticket drivers ignoring the posted limits in town, the mayor adds.
Another action determined was the recent placing of advertisements in the Free Press to inform local residents and businesses of the situation.
The speeding problem is not confined to younger drivers, the mayor says.
"The youths are the ones that always get the bad rap, and it's not the youths in particular; it's the parents and [other] adults."
The only exception from the 30 km/h limit is Horse Lake Road and certain parts of Exeter-McInley Road.
The mayor adds he commends the OMHSA for its many efforts to highlight and eradicate the problem, and helping to protect local children and other pedestrians.