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Letter: Think about a safe speed

My wife was the person who “stopped for a deer and got clipped” on lower Alberni Street the morning of December 11, 2017 [“ Powell River resident calls for reduction of speed limit on Alberni Street , ” July 5] .
Powell River letter

My wife was the person who “stopped for a deer and got clipped” on lower Alberni Street the morning of December 11, 2017 [“Powell River resident calls for reduction of speed limit on Alberni Street, ” July 5].

An attentive bystander (or two) was there to witness the accident, help her out of the vehicle and make sure an ambulance was summoned. She received excellent care in the emergency room and intensive care unit for the three days she spent in hospital.

Like her car, she appears to have been left with injuries that are irreparable. If the last year and a half are any indication, she will be seeing doctors and therapists and taking medications for a very long time. Hardly a week goes by without her having at least one medical appointment.

On recent trips to Victoria, mostly to attend appropriate therapy for my wife’s injuries, we have noticed that many speed limits have been reduced from 50 to 40 kilometres per hour, and some have been reduced to 30 kilometres per hour. I can’t think of a reason why Powell River cannot follow suit for appropriate locations.

We have a Basic Speed Law that states: Never drive faster than it is safe. The next time you drive by Base Camp on a busy afternoon, please think about what your safe speed should be.

Thank you, Doug Flesher and neighbours, for being concerned residents, and thank you Paul Galinski for reporting on this issue.

A lower speed limit may not have prevented a distracted driver from rear-ending my wife, but if that car was travelling slower my wife may have only struck the steering wheel once instead of twice.

Kim Beno
Craig Road