The EFCL is linking arms with the City of Edmonton and two city school boards on a number of traffic safety initiatives which will focus on pedestrian safety around schools and on residential streets.

“It makes good sense for us to join in this effort,” noted EFCL executive director Allan Bolstad. “Our focus will be on programs that have a strong neighborhood focus and are likely to include our member leagues as participants.”

For example, this spring the city will introduce community response vans, which will be equipped with photo radar and will have the ability to photograph speeding motorists while it travels the speed limit on any given road. These vans, which will be well marked as mobile photo-radar units, will be on call for local organizations like community leagues that are concerned about speeding on streets in their area.

Another program is called Speed Watch, where local residents can obtain message boards and speed guns to demonstrate the speed at which motorists are traveling on a particular street. Residents can report motorists that are traveling in excess of 20 km./hour over the posted speed limit. These motorists will receive a letter from the police.

The EFCL will also be front and centre in administering the Pace Car Program, where local residents can obtain bumper stickers that say “I drive the speed limit.” Approximately 170 of these stickers have already been issued to residents in Twin Brooks.

One idea very much in the discussion stage is a proposal to reduce the posted speed limit on residential roads in Edmonton. It is recognized that 50 km/per hour is often too fast for local conditions, particularly when police are reluctant to issue a speeding ticket until the motorist is at least 10 km/hour over the speed limit.

Citizens are also encouraged to attend a free community forum on urban traffic safety, from 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, March 17 at the Sutton Place Hotel - 10235-101 Street. The forum is part of a three day international conference on urban traffic safety.