Drivers who slow down and roll through stop signs are going to be in for a surprise when they are pulled over by a member of the RCMP.
While one must always come to a complete stop at a stop sign, Dawson Creek RCMP are going to be paying extra attention to intersections over the next year.
“Collisions in intersection are high, and when you make the public more aware of it then they pay a little more attention,” said Cst. Brandie Guzyk.
The Dawson Creek RCMP have announced that they are going to try and lessen the amount of motor vehicles accidents in Dawson Creek over the next year.
“We had less collisions on the highway and more collision in the municipality last year compared to the year before. Normally, it’s more on the highways then there is in town. We’re getting a lot fender benders so what we’ve started here, [is] an initiation plan to try to focus every month on something that seems to be an issue,” explained Guzyk.
Therefore, the RCMP are reminding everyone in the Dawson Creek area to slow down and come to a definite and full stop before carrying on down the road to their destination.
In January 2012, numerous vehicles were pulled over for failing to properly stop at a stop sign including 12 cases where tickets were issued as a result. If you don’t stop completely at the stop sign, the penalty could be a violation ticket costing $167 under section 186 of the Motor Vehicle Act.
Stopping means a complete cessation from movement, even during the winter months.
“If the roads are slippery and you’re going at a high speed to the stop sign, you’re not going to have that time to stop and you could slide through the intersection,” she said.
If there is a stop sign at the intersection, unless directed otherwise by a police officer, the driver of the vehicle must stop at the marked stop line or stop before entering the market crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. When there’s not a marked crosswalk or stop line before entering the intersection, the driver must view approaching traffic on the intersecting highway at the point nearest the intersecting highway.
“Lots of it is just making the public aware of the motor vehicle act. Most people they get their licence and they know what it means but still, it takes only maybe two, three sections to stop at the stop sign but they always try and go … we get a lot of collisions because of not doing the full stop and doing the both way looking making sure it is clear for you to go,” said Guzyk.
