Don’t tell Janelle Shoihet the only people speeding along White Rock’s Marine Drive aren’t from around here.
After conducting traffic enforcement along the popular waterfront strip on a weekday morning last week, the White Rock constable knows better.
“Everybody we stopped was either a White Rock or Ocean Park resident,” Shoihet said.
“It’s definitely the residents that are the offenders.”
Shoihet made the comments in response to what she says are repeated claims by area residents that the majority of motorists who speed along Marine Drive don’t live in the neighbourhood.
In one hour – 7 to 8 a.m. – on Dec. 21, Shoihet said seven drivers were cited for exceeding the strip’s 30 km/h limit. Most were doing at least double the allowed speed, and all of those ticketed were eastbound commuters, she said.
“People always say, ‘oh, it’s not us’,” she said. “Everybody I spoke to was on their way to work.”
Shoihet said the problem isn’t just speed. The day before, one driver in a hurry actually passed a bus on Marine Drive – narrowly missing Shoihet as the officer went to walk across the street.
The bus driver told Shoihet she sees similar driving behaviour every morning.
With the winter chill adding a layer of ice to the mix, Shoihet said it’s even more important that motorists abide by the rules.
“The speed down there is 30 for a reason,” she said. “Had you had to stop, it would have been very difficult to do so.
“Thankfully, I was looking.”