Look out for RCMP officers increasingly monitoring traffic and pedestrian flows in communities across the Cowichan Valley in the coming months.
The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment recently received $245,000 from the province’s Community Safety Targeted Enforcement Program to pay for enhanced pedestrian and traffic safety initiatives that will run through to April, 2026.
The purchase of new equipment and extra patrols in the community from the funding have already proven to be incredibly valuable to the detachment's enforcement efforts, according to Staff Sergeant Ken Beard, head of North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment.
As part of his quarterly report to North Cowichan council at a meeting on Sept. 3, Beard said that with services, schools, restaurants and other businesses spanning both sides of the Trans-Canada Highway that runs through the Cowichan Valley, the detachment has recently responded to numerous road-safety incidents in that area, some with tragic consequences.
He said in order to ensure people are obeying road safety rules, the local RCMP will be deploying road-safety blitz teams regularly to promote safety education and traffic enforcement.
“S/Sgt Deborah Kelly has already been sending out updates on education initiatives and violation tickets results to community leadership,” Beard said.
“Despite efforts to date to curb people’s decisions to jaywalk across the TCH, it is still common to see youth, unhoused people and others crossing back and forth as needed. Many jaywalking tickets have been handed out already, at a cost of $115 each. The detachment is partnering with ICBC to help with the education and awareness aspect.”
Kelly said for people to look out for RCMP officers as they will be very visible in Cowichan Valley communities.
"We will be completing several initiatives over the next few months including handing out reflectors to pedestrians," she said.
"Remember to always use crosswalks, make eye contact with drivers, remove your headphones, wear reflectors and be aware when walking."
