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LETTERS: Resident has tried to get Central Saanich to think safety

Mr. Editor, you talk about the traffic situation on Hovey and Tomlinson roads as being unfair, I agree with you, it is very unfair.

Re: Road use debate unfair

Mr. Editor, you talk about the traffic situation on Hovey and Tomlinson roads as being unfair, I agree with you, it is very unfair.

The most unfair thing is the fact that safety, which should be the first and foremost concern, is being ignored. It is also unfair that many former users of these roads are no longer able to use them safely with the truck traffic that VI Pallet is subjecting it to.

Those who no longer use our narrow little country roads include but are not limited to the following; the Hospice Grief Group of mostly senior ladies who used to come all the way from North Saanich to walk on this quiet country road no longer feel safe having freight trucks pass within mere inches of them. One of our neighbors, an elderly gentleman, who used to ride his mobility scooter in the company of his daughter for his regular daily “walk” no longer participates in this activity.

It is unfair that Stelly’s students must jog within mere inches of these large freight trucks when they do their daily school runs.

It is unfair to the many horseback riders and dog walkers, who I witness daily, trying to find driveways or any other reprieve to distance themselves from the dangers these trucks present.

It is unfair to many of us who live on these roads that we cannot drive our cars without having to pull into someone’s driveway to avoid the trucks.

Yes, Mr. Editor, it is very unfair. But worse than that it is extremely dangerous. But it is not like this concern has not been addressed to Central Saanich police and council. I have tried, I have made presentations to Mayor Ryan Windsor and Council and have met with the Chief of Police, Les Sylven, and shared my concerns. They say it is complicated as it deals with the Tsartlip First Nation. I don’t buy this for a moment, as I do not believe our Tsartlip First Nation neighbours would want to see our children and elderly facing such a dangerous situation just so one trucking company can access a property on the east side of their Reserve.

My expertise as a former accident re-constructionist with the RCMP seems to mean little to our representatives. The fact I have on many occasions in the past provided expert evidence in court involving commercial truck accidents where children and other innocent users were killed seems to be of little concern and has fallen on deaf ears.

I truly believe that due to the unsuitability of this type of truck traffic on these roads there will be either a serious injury or fatality accident that will result from this current dangerous situation, it is only a matter of time.

David Berndt, Saanichton