City police traffic safety plan in the works

City police are undertaking a traffic safety plan and it’s hoped to be made public this September.

Chief Shawn Devine says the deputy chief has initiated a review of how they are looking at traffic issues.

He says that could include community involvement on where people see concerns or believe more enforcement is required.

It will also touch on public awareness and education too.

Devine says, “the police alone can’t just enforce and expect were going to have safer roads.”

He says that involves public education with distracted driving, impaired driving and speeding.

With distracted driving, Devine says there needs to be a social change. “Encourage our children to remind their parents or adults that they see doing it, the figures are out that distracted driving is more serious than impaired driving right now as far as deaths related to that.”

Stats provided to the North Bay Police Services Board meeting show police responded to 106 collisions in April. Twelve involved injuries, with 14 people injured.

Meantime, Devine was asked about a petition that is looking to get a crosswalk on Algonquin, by the medical building.

That’s were two pedestrians were struck and killed in early May.

He says they haven’t been involved in any discussions, but would be open to talking with the city.

He points out they would be looking after enforcement if a crosswalk was put in place.