Comox Valley RCMP and Citizens on Patrol are teaming up for a speed awareness blitz this week.

Why focus on speed? Because speeding isn鈥檛 just about shaving a few minutes off your drive 鈥� it is one of the leading causes of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on our roads. 

Reaction time drops when your speed climbs: At 50 km/hr you might be able to stop in time when that truck ahead slams on its brakes. At 80 km/hr you鈥檙e calling a tow truck (or worse).

Crash severity skyrockets: Speed doesn鈥檛 just increase your odds of crashing 鈥� it turns minor fender benders into major disasters.

Other drivers are unpredictable: Some skip turn signals, others seem confused by stop signs or red lights, some merge in and out of traffic like it鈥檚 a competitive sport, and some forget they have a blind spot. The faster you鈥檙e going, the less chance you have to adapt to their surprises.

鈥淲e get it, life is busy,鈥� says Cst. Brad Landers, Comox Valley RCMP Municipal Traffic Section. 鈥淏ut please remember 鈥� it is better to be five minutes late than five hours explaining a crash to ICBC, the police, or worse, to a grieving family.鈥�

Consider this your friendly warning: you can avoid a ticket 鈥� and maybe save a life by simply slowing down.