date posted: 2002-12-01
What can we do about cars which are speeding on our streets or drivers who ignore stop signs or drive dangerously? Such complaints are common as irresponsible drivers ignore their own safety and that of others by disregarding posted speed limits, school zones, and stop signs on neighbourhood streets.
Richmond Hill Council has recently adopted a Road Watch Program as one way to respond to these concerns. Road Watch is a program designed to encourage citizen participation to improve road safety in our community. It includes Citizen Report forms which residents can use to report unsafe or aggressive driving behaviour.
I have been appointed as a Council representative along with Councillors Barrow and Foster however; this Committee is very much citizen oriented. A group of citizen and business representatives has been appointed to lead this important community initiative which also has the backing and support of the York Regional Police.
Citizens will be able to submit reports of dangerous driving habits to the Police and when verified the owner of the offending car will receive a letter outlining that their vehicle was observed being operated in an unsafe manner at a specific time and location. A second notice will include a warning, and should there be a third complaint; the owner will receive a visit from the Police.
The Road Watch Committee has held its inaugural meeting and expects to consider costs, funding sources and a public awareness campaign in the coming weeks. Richmond Hill Council has contributed five thousand dollars to the program to get it going.
Forms will be available in early 2003 at which time they will be available from numerous locations throughout the Town and on various web-sites.
Road Watch.......... Coming soon!