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Video: Delta cop has close call with careless driver

A Delta Police officer on the side of Highway 17 speaking with a driver he’d just pulled over Sept. 30 was nearly struck by a car speeding and weaving erractically through traffic.
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A Delta Police officer on the side of Highway 17 speaking with a driver he’d just pulled over Sept. 30 was nearly struck by a car speeding and weaving erractically through traffic.

 

The unnamed officer never got a look at the driver at the time but later appeared on the car owner's doorstep after dashcam footage of the incident was turned over to police by a motorist who witnessed the near collision.

 

“Our officers were able to isolate the license plate of the car in question from the video, and the officer who was nearly struck decided to pay a visit in person with the registered owner of the vehicle,” said Acting Insp. Ryan Hall, who oversees the Traffic Unit.

The registered owner, who lives in Delta, received a $368 ticket for driving without due care and attention although, because the driver was unidentified, the ticket didn't come with the typical six penalty points removed from their driving record.

“This type of driving behaviour is so reckless,” added Hall “This is exactly how fatal collisions happen. Less than a second of difference and we could have had a significantly different outcome. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon. It takes just one person, with selfish or unthinking driving behaviour, to cause unbelievable carnage and pain. We would also ask people to slow down and move to the opposite lane as dictated in the Motor Vehicle Act for their and the officers’ safety.”

In British Columbia, motorists are required to slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped alongside the road that have flashing red, blue or yellow lights. This includes first responders, maintenance workers, tow trucks, Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement personnel, land surveyors, animal control workers, garbage collectors and other roadside workers.