Editor:
I hate to be a "Karen" (even though that's unfortunately my actual name), but I have a gripe that I want to share with your readers.
I've noticed a complete lack of regard by drivers for observing the 30 km/h speed limit in Burnaby school zones.
The school zone at Sperling Elementary on Sperling Avenue near Adair Street, my neighbourhood, is a prime example of this. Drivers are literally going almost highway speeds up and down Sperling and are disregarding the obvious yellow school zone and speed limit road signs staring them in the face. I know Sperling is one of the major arteries in North Burnaby, but a school zone is a school zone and speed limits are in place for a reason.
I went for a walk the other day at around noon on a school day and decided to count how many cars were obviously speeding. Out of the first 20 cars, only four slowed down to what I estimated was less than 40 km/h. Unfortunately, the rest were clearly travelling at 60 km/h or more, with four drivers going close to highway speeds at what I would guess was about 80 km/h or more.
In the middle of a school day. I noticed another gentleman walking on the sidewalk, shaking his head and gesturing at some of the drivers to slow down, but to no avail.
As a parent of two children at Sperling school, I feel the safety of my kids and all other children at the school are at risk. I called Burnaby RCMP to request more police presence in the area, but they can only do so much. There needs to be a mentality change somehow, not just a police deterrent.
Now, I know that the recent change to the school zone speed limits being in effect until 10 p.m. takes some getting used to (even I catch myself going too fast sometimes in the evenings), but I'm talking about people speeding in the middle of the school day, every school day, morning and afternoon.
Karen Smith, Burnaby
