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Opinion: Reckless drivers were warned Burnaby kids were back in school. They didn’t listen

Warning drivers about children returning to school is an annual tradition for journalists.
BURNABY rcmp traffic
Burnaby RCMP pulling over drivers in a school zone on Thursday. Burnaby RCMP photo

Warning drivers about children returning to school is an annual tradition for journalists.

I’ve been writing these stories for nearly 30 years, although I often wonder why we need to tell seemingly intelligent people to WATCH OUT FOR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL ZONES. 

I don’t condone speeding at any time, but there is a special place in hell for people who speed through school zones.

Like, just don’t do it. Pay attention to the signs and slow down because killing children is bad, in case you didn’t already know that.

I have to state such obvious things because clearly drivers aren’t getting it. According to the Burnaby RCMP’s traffic enforcement unit, officers were out in force in local school zones and it didn’t take long to catch a bunch of reckless drivers.

Officers caught 22 drivers speeding “well in excess” of the 30 km/h speed zone, with the average speed being 58 km/h and the highest vehicle being clocked at 69 km/h.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you were in a hurry and had to be at something important like a nail appointment or a meeting with your boss. Blah, blah, blah – there’s always some reason for being reckless.

Oh, and just to put a little icing on the reckless cake, Burnaby cops caught a truck speeding in a school zone and four other violations and seven mechanical defects. The truck has been ordered off the road.

It’s getting to the point where I want to paint a sign that says “Slow the F*** Down Idiot” and stand in a school zone to get the message across.

It’s. Just. Not. Worth. The. Risk.

Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.