A Pemberton Valley resident is renewing her calls for a reduction in the speed limit between Mount Currie and the Village of Pemberton (VOP) after two bear cubs were struck and killed by a vehicle on Highway 99, near Airport Road.
"There are literally animals running around everywhere," said Leala Selina Martin, who lives along the stretch of highway and wants the speed limit reduced to 60 kilometres an hour from its current 80 km/h.
"It's not safe for the animals, and it's not safe for people to be driving at high speeds."
Selina Martin said a friend of hers had the misfortune of hitting the cubs.
(The friend did not wish to be interviewed by Pique.)
According to Selina Martin, the friend was driving slightly below the stated speed limit when the accident took place at around 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 amid heavy rainfall.
That said, Selina Martin said there is still an urgent need to drop the speed limit to 60 km/h, as it's not uncommon to see people travelling at 100 km/h on the stretch of highway.
"Something needs to be done, because there are just more accidents waiting to happen," said Selina Martin, adding that it is common to see herds of roaming horses, off-leash dogs, and other wildlife on the highway.
Things have changed since the speed limit was first established, said Selina Martin.
"Eighteen years ago, there were a lot fewer vehicles on the highway," she said.
"You would often know the people who would drive by, but I think now, it's often people that don't know the area as much, and they are completely unaware that they are driving down a highway where there are roaming horses, cows and dogs and bears."
In a letter to the Village of Pemberton (VOP) Council that was discussed this summer, Selina Martin called for the speed reduction for the first time and outlined how her families witnessed two horses lose their lives after they were struck by a speeding vehicle along the section of road.
The letter resulted in a lively discussion at the VOP's June 25 regular council meeting, with Coun. Amica Antonelli supporting the idea of a speed reduction for safety purposes, while Coun. Ted Craddock expressed concerns that it could result in more congestion. VOP council decided to further review the situation.
Ultimately, setting the speed limit is up to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
In an interview with Pique last week, VOP Mayor Mike Richman said the proposal to reduce the speed limit is still being considered, and the VOP is planning on talking about the issue with local MLA Jordan Sturdy about. "It's definitely a consideration," said Richman of the potential change. "We are going to continue to look at the speed limit. We are going to talk to the MLA a little bit about it ... But I don't know if this incident was actually speed related."
Richman added that he's seen a lot of bears this summer and called on the public to be extra vigilant when driving, noting that they can jet onto the highway unexpectedly.
"There have been a lot of bears in the last couple of weeks that have come down into the valley," said Richman. "You hear people talking about it all over town, and I've noticed it in my own yard as well."
Sturdy, whose North Arm Farm sits along the section of highway, said the affected family of bears spent a lot of time in the area, feeding and using the highway as a travel corridor.
He added that farms like his have taken important steps to reduce access to attractants, such as installing electric fencing, and making sure that garbage is secured.
He doesn't believe human attractants are drawing bears to the area.
Sturdy noted that the province completed a traffic review of the section of highway in question fairly recently, which determined that the speed limit doesn't need to be reduced.
That said, he is open to discussing whether a change is needed with the VOP.
"One of the biggest lobbyists I've had is my wife," said Sturdy, with a laugh. "She drives a school bus up and down that road, picking kids up and dropping them off every day along Highway 99. And she has lots to say about drivers, and how fast people drive, and also about people passing school buses."
