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Speed on residential street a concern

City of Armstrong gets stats from three-week speed reader board stint over summer
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Statistics released from a three-week speed reader board operation in Armstrong over the summer raised the eyebrows of city council. (City of Armstrong photo)

Drivers went zipping through an Armstrong residential area over the summer.

The city shares use of a speed reader board with the Township of Spallumcheen and City of Enderby. Over a three-week period from June 14-July 4, Armstrong had the board set up at three locations: Harding Road (the development beside Tim Hortons); Moray Street, a downtown residential roadway; and McKechnie Drive, located in a residential subdivision off Wood Avenue.

The board was set up on Moray Street from Thursday to Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to midnight, and on Wednesday from midnight from 9 a.m., from June 22-28.

During the six-day slot, the average recorded speed ranged from 32 to 34 km/hour (35 km/h overnight). The number of cars recorded ranged from 61 to 92 (13 overnight) and the highest recorded maximum speed recorded ranged between 45 and 90 km/h. Twice, the highest recorded maximum speed was 90 km/h and 80 km/h was the highest on one day (45 km/h overnight).

“The speed reader board maxes out at 20 kilometres over the speed limit as far as the visual reading, but the computer logs the right speed,” said Mayor Chris Pieper.

Added Coun. Shirley Fowler: “The results on Moray shocks me.”

The board was placed at Harding Road from 1 p.m. to midnight from Wednesday to Wednesday, June 14-21, and overnight from midnight to 9 a.m. June 22. The average speed during the day ranged from 43 to 52 km/h (47 km/h overnight). The number of cars recorded ranged from a low of 312 to a high of 982 (87 overnight) and the maximum speed recorded ranged from 50 to 80 km/h (65 km/h overnight).

On McKechnie Drive, the board was established from Wednesday to Monday from 9 a.m. to midnight June 28-July 3, and overnight midnight to 8 a.m. July 4. The average speed during the day ranged from 34 to 35 km/h (37 km/h overnight). Total number of cars recorded ranged from 65 to 156 (10 overnight) and the maximum speed recorded ranged from 40 to 50 km/h (40 km/h overnight).

“The information will be sent to the local RCMP so they are aware of it,” said Fowler.



Roger Knox

About the Author: Roger Knox

I am a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. I started my career in radio and have spent the last 21 years working with Black Press Media.
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