District of Oak Bay and ICBC Partner to Improve Traffic Safety
on Oak Bay Streets.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday July 3, 2014, Oak Bay, B.C.

The District of Oak Bay’s Police and Engineering departments have partnered with ICBC on the purchase of 4 electronic speed display boards that will be set up on Oak Bay streets throughout the community. The speed boards will improve public safety and strengthen infrastructure, signage and enforcement decision-making by elevating driver awareness while simultaneously collecting data establishing a traffic data base for Oak Bay.

ICBC is contributing 50% of the total $16,048.00 investment as part of the ICBC 2014 Road Improvement Program aimed at reducing motor vehicle collisions and claims costs. The speed boards have solar power capability and are portable which will enable them to be positioned throughout the community.

“These speed boards are a very effective tool aimed at promoting speed awareness for drivers throughout the community,” said Oak Bay Police Constable Rick Anthony. “Life is full of distractions, and the ability of the speed boards to provide immediate feedback to drivers has proven to reinforce responsible driving habits. The speed boards will be set up initially on Oak Bay Avenue near Yale Street. We see a lot of our older residents walking in this area and we’d like to encourage drivers to be more aware of the speed limit reductions as they enter the village centre.”

“Oak Bay’s Active Transportation Committee is thrilled to have these speed board signs as part of our community’s traffic safety program,” said Councillor Michelle Kirby who is council liaison on this committee. “This technology allows our citizens to be more aware of the speed at which traffic moves speed boards will also help informthrough our community and for drivers to self-correct as necessary.”

“The speed boards will be set up initially on Oak Bay Avenue to introduce residents to these new additions to our traffic safety program.  We will, however, be relocating them for the summer in mid-July to the Landsdowne Road/Cadboro Bay Road area to increase driver awareness and collect data in this busy location that is well known for urban deer populations,” explained Mayor Jensen.  “Over time, the  the appropriate location for additional signage support to further mitigate deer/human conflict throughout the community.”