Skip to content

Surrey, White Rock RCMP ‘swoop’ in on drivers

Enforcement blitz results in more than 70 violation tickets.
41977whiterockprojectswoop-th-1
White Rock RCMP Const. Deryk Roberts clocks drivers eastbound in the 14500-block of North Bluff Road Thursday

Police in Surrey and White Rock swooped in on lead-footed motorists and those taking chances behind the wheel Thursday, in an effort to curb high-risk driving behaviour on local streets.

The one-day education and enforcement effort, dubbed Project Swoop, was aimed at driving home the fact that such behaviours increase a driver's risk of getting into a crash.

A total of 12 speed-watch deployments were held throughout White Rock and Surrey – six in the morning and six in the afternoon.

Stationed in the 14500-block of North Bluff Road, White Rock RCMP Const. Deryk Roberts said a majority of the eastbound drivers he clocked were abiding by the 50-km/h speed limit – but definitely not all.

The worst offender along the stretch was travelling at 74 km/h.

At the same time, "we've seen much, much faster," Roberts said, citing speeds of up to 140 km/h.

Community policing volunteersA few blocks west of Roberts, community policing volunteers Bill Nikiforuk and Mike Boyle were manning a digital speed-reader board, which flashed the speed for oncoming drivers.

The pair said volunteers weren't there to enforce the rules – "it just reminds people," Boyle said.

The woman driving 74 km/h slowed down when she saw the board, he noted.

Deployments in South Surrey included further west on 16 Avenue, and on Crescent Road where it intersects with the train tracks.

Surrey RCMP announced Monday that more than 70 violation tickets were handed out during Project Swoop. The majority were for speeding.

The effort also included auxiliary constables, the Fraser Valley Integrated Road Safety Unit, CN Rail Police, ICBC's road-safety team and city staff.

 



Tracy Holmes

About the Author: Tracy Holmes

Tracy Holmes has been a reporter with Peace Arch News since 1997.
Read more