RCMP have been busy during the last month making sure that Albertans are taking safety seriously by conducting various checkstops around Ponoka.
For the month of March, Ponoka Traffic Services, Lacombe Police Service, Lacombe County Enforcement, Alberta Sheriffs, RCMP Ponoka Detachment, and the Ponoka Community Peace Officer, had three major checkstops around Ponoka and Lacombe which resulted in a number of safety violations.
The checkstops were set up to enforce and educate drivers and the public on the proper use of seatbelts while in a vehicle.
The checkstops found that not every driver was taking the necessary actions to keep them and their passengers buckled up while in a vehicle.
Police issued 73 tickets for unrestrained adult drivers, 17 tickets for unrestrained children and 10 tickets for unrestrained adult passengers.
Other tickets issued, not related to seatbelts totaled 37 and two provincial warrants were executed.
The total fines for seatbelt violations was about $11,500 and $6,429 for other Alberta Traffic Safety violations.
RCMP in Alberta are not slowing down for April, but are doing a province wide speed enforcement campaign for the month.
The campaign’s goal is to help reduce injuries and death on Alberta’s roads by educating the public on obeying the speed limits.
“Speeding is one of the most common causes of collisions on Alberta’s streets and highways,” said Inspector James Stiles, Officer in Charge “K” Division Traffic Services in a press release. “Our goal is to bring awareness to Albertans about the seriousness of speeding.”
Speeding will be taken seriously by RCMP and if speeding, drivers could face substantial fines and demerit points.
The maximum speed limit for a primary highway that is outside a city or town area is 100 km/h. For non-primary highways outside a city or town is 80 km/h. A highway that goes through an urban area usually has a speed limit of 50 km/h.
The maximum speed in a school zone or playground area in a city or town is 30 km/h and for outside an urban area is 40 km/h.
The fine for speeding doubles if a driver is passing emergency vehicles or construction workers.
“Collisions involving high speed and the ensuing death and injury have always shocked and saddened Albertans whenever they occur,” said Stiles. “Please obey all posted speed limits and use common sense. Slow down in bad weather, at night, and when driving on poorly lit roadways.”