There have been lots of stories in the news lately regarding crashes on B.C. and Metro Vancouver roads, some fatal, on the road and on our sidewalks involving e-scooters.
Just last week, the Vancouver Police Department shared that a 30-year-old woman died after crashing into a car on her scooter.
She wasn’t wearing a helmet.
Earlier this month, the RCMP shared that two people died after a highway crash at a B.C. national park. The BC Highway Patrol recently stopped a 22-year-old who was speeding on a motorcycle just one week after another motorcyclist passed away due to a high-speed crash.
Now, the Abbotsford Police Department has put out an impassioned plea to the public after recent deaths in its jurisdiction.
Abbotsford Police Sergeant Walker said that over the past three weeks, the Fraser Valley community suffered two tragic and preventable deaths.
“In both cases, the lives lost were passengers whose futures were taken because of poor decisions made by the drivers of the vehicles they were travelling in,” Walker said.
He added that the deaths weren’t just collisions, but devastating events that forever changed families. He shared some worrying statistics.
“So far in July, AbbyPD officers have removed 64 impaired drivers from our roads. We have also taken enforcement action against 19 excessive speeders & issued more than 400 violation tickets for a variety of traffic offences. These numbers are concerning because they represent preventable choices that put lives at risk every day,” Walker shared.
The Abbotsford Police sergeant said that something needs to change.
“While enforcement remains an important part of road safety, true change comes from personal responsibility. Safer roads are built when each of us recognizes that our decisions affect not only ourselves, but families, friends, neighbours, & everyone who shares our roads.”
Walker added that the recent deaths must serve as more than a reminder.
“They must be a call to action. As a community, we need to make safer choices & commit to preventing future tragedies.”