Traffic blitz reveals Edmontonians’ need for speed

EDMONTON — Nearly 1,200 speeding tickets were handed out by Edmonton police during their latest 24-hour traffic enforcement blitz, which ended Wednesday at 7 a.m.

Of those caught, 206 were handed to motorists driving through neighbourhoods at speeds of up to 50 km/h over the posted speed limit.

Edmonton’s police Chief Mike Boyd said despite the city’s enforcement initiatives, speeding is still a huge problem and one that police will continue to target.

“We’re going to throw everything we have at this speeding problem, to bring it down to the level that Edmontonians expect for safety; on their highways, in their communities and right here in their neighbourhoods,” said Boyd.

Police began monthly blitzes starting last September, when 1,900 motorists were cited for speeding.

So far this year, 15 people have been killed and 22 seriously injured in accidents where speed was a factor.

Last year six Edmontonians were killed and 12 others were left seriously injured by speed-related collisions.

Violators collared during the latest blitz included a vehicle travelling 128 km/h in a 60-km/h zone at Gateway Boulevard and 71st Ave., a vehicle travelling at 110 km/h in a 60 km/h-zone at 170th St. and 95th Ave., and a vehicle travelling at 170 km/h in a 90 km/h zone at Manning Drive and 150th Ave.

jlim@thejournal.canwest.com