Stopping speeders

City police say they are surprised drivers haven’t gotten the message to slow down while traveling down Oliver Road.

Thunder Bay Police Service officers once again set up camp along Oliver Road just outside Lakehead University on Wednesday in order to halt anyone traveling faster than the posted speed limit. Despite numerous blitzes to stop speeders, the number of tickets given to drivers haven’t gone down.

Last month, officers issued 274 tickets to motorists along Oliver Road, 195 of which were for speeding. Speeds ranged in the high 80s and 90s but the posted speed limit in the community safety zone is 50 kilometres an hour.

Sgt. Glenn Porter said he doesn’t know why people have to speed along that stretch of road. He said the number of tickets they issued last month this year was about the same as last year.

“We thought we had the problem somewhat tamed,” Porter said. “We’re worried about the pedestrians, the cyclists and anyone else using the road. The best way to avoid a collision is to stop when you need to. I don’t know what it is. Those speeds would be illegal even on the Harbour Expressway so what’s the excuse?”

Porter said they will be staying on Oliver Road and conducting other speeding blitzes until more drivers slow down.