Vehicles are speeding past school buses in this St. John's neighbourhood, and residents want action

The view of vehicles streaming past stopped school buses outside a St. John's home has one resident frustrated and she has hours of video to prove it happens a lot.

Amanda Power ofKenmount Terracesays she and her neighbours have for months been recording video of vehicles driving past school buses despite their red flashing lights and stop signs. Power said she's seen animals hit by cars and she fears it's just a matter of time a child is struck.

"I don't want that child who eventually will be struck to be a poster for distracted driving," she said Wednesday. "Because that's eventually what's going to happen."

Power, the mother of a seven-year-old, has had her ownclose call, while walking her 160-lb. dog.

"We were in the middle of the crosswalk and a business van blew through," she said. "I couldn't believe it. Like, it's daytime."

Need for safety measures

Power is concerned over the speed and volume of traffic on her neighbourhood's Ladysmith Drive and Great Eastern Avenue, which she said people use as bypasses to get to Kenmount Road and Kelsey Drive.

"People are just speeding through here like it's the Trans-Canada Highway," Power said. "They're not abiding by any rules of the road."

Sinceresidentsstarted collecting video of speeding vehicles in November, she said, tickets have been issued. But more needs to be done, she said. She'dlike to see a three-way stop at Kiwanis Street and Ladysmith Drive to slow traffic down and make it less attractive as a bypass.

Power said she's been complaining to the City of St. John's about the problem for several years but there's been no action taken.

Power shared an Aug. 17, 2022, emailwithCBCNews fromthen Ward 4councillor Ian Froude, whosaid the city had conducted traffic analysis on Ladysmith Drive and Great Eastern Avenue and determined the roads didn't qualify for traffic calming measures.

"If there are vehicles running stop signs or not stopping at crosswalks, then please call the RNC. The more residents that call them, the more resources they can put into traffic enforcement in the street," Froude wrote to her.

In Nov. 17 email Power shared with CBCfromNov. 17, 2023, traffic analysis supervisor Stephen Fagan wrote Ladysmith Drive couldbe eligible for the traffic calming program, but 25 per cent of the street's households 31 households would have to sign a petition to support a study.

Power said she doesn't understand why that step isnecessary when she has proof six hours of dangerous speeding and buses being passed by vehicles.

Froudehas since left council, andPower said the newly elected Tom Davishas been listening to her concerns. But it's only been since the provincial government announced a new school for the neighbourhood that the city said it would install speed cushions, "which may or may not help," she said.

WATCH | Power has hours of video of speeding drivers and says it hasn't been enough for the city to act:

See cars flying down a residential St. Johns road, blowing past school buses

4 months ago

Duration 0:31

Parents who live in Kenmount Terrace in St. Johns say they're terrified a child will be hit by a speeding or inattentive driver. Resident Amanda Power has months' worth of video showing drivers breaking the rules of the road.

There's a plan for a temporary speed cushion on one street but Power said it's for the summerwhen school is out and won't give the cityaccurate data for making decisions.

Power wants city staff to visit Kenmount Terrace to see what traffic is like and talk to people in order to figureout the best solution.

"Maybe they [should] actually take suggestions, instead of doing these studies, and try it," said Power.

Davis said herecently visited the neighbourhood and watched traffic for an hour and he said he was amazed to see drivers coasting through stop signs.

He said 16 people have been charged and convicted with passing school buses in the area, which he said reveals the problem's significance.

He said he's sent a note to city staff to consider Power's recommendations as well as radar speed signs for Ladysmith Drive and Great Eastern Avenue.

"When you're parked by the side of the road, dealing with the tragedy of having struck an animal, or even worse, [a] child, you're going to wish that you had been driving defensively, that you've been following the speed limit," Davissaid.

"We're all in a big rush, but when that tragedy occurs, man, oh man, you're going to live that with the rest of your life."

Davis doesn't believe Kenmount Terrace's situation is unique and encourages people to advocate for their streets like Power and her neighbours are doing, adding the police can't be everywhere.

The city has committed to more speed calming measures in the area, said Davis, but it's also an educational process to inform the public about the rules of the road.

The city is installing a speed cushion for the summer, acommitment Davis said was made in March.

"I personally am working with our staff to get these measures in place as soon as possible. You know, one of the challenges with speed cushions in general is that there are people who want them and there people who don't like them," said Davis.

RNC urges people to report

Const. James Cadigan said the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's traffic services circulate through the city every day on the lookout for aggressive drivers.

He said if people see vehicles passing a school bus, the police want information like licence plate numbers, as well as descriptions of the vehicle and operator.

"Any information we can be provided, can allow us to investigate and hold these operators accountable," Cadigan told CBC News.

As soon as the bus's stop sign is visible, he said all traffic has to come to a halt.

"When you observe a school bus on our roads, you should immediately, immediately use caution. You know, it's like you're approaching a traffic light," said Cadigan.

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