KELOWNA – Two young mothers fear for the safety of their children and themselves almost every time they use a crosswalk on Rutland Road near Belgo Elementary school.
Many drivers don’t stop when pedestrians are waiting to use the crosswalk.
“It’s horrible,” says Samantha Bro. “I have to pass with anywhere between four and six kids every day when I walk my kids to school and I’m always terrified one of my kids is going to dart out and a car is just going to speed by.”
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Alexandra Grub has complained to City Hall, her M-L-A and the RCMP.
“They say it’s not a police issue and I said ‘Is the safety of children not a police issue?'”, says Grub. “They said they don’t have the manpower to come here and wait.”
But a RCMP spokesperson says police take pedestrian safety very seriously.
“They’re urged to contact the Kelowna RCMP municipal traffic section and share those concerns with the section, says Cst. Jesse O’Donaghey. “An officer will be assigned and they’ll follow up with enforcement in that area and work to resolve that issue.”
Bro hopes that will happen soon and drive home the message to drivers.
“Slow down. A child’s life is more important than where they have to go.”
Motorists can be fined up to $167 for not stopping at a crosswalk.
“The pedestrian does have the right of way,” says O’Donaghey.
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