After the heartache of losing six cats at her BX home, Cassie Bosworth is pleading for motorists to slow down.
Growing up on East Vernon Road (between Pottery and Black Rock roads), the now 19-year-old wasn’t even allowed to play in the front yard due to the excessive speeders on the street.
“This road is horrible,” said Cassie’s dad, Mike Bosworth. “When they were kids I was so scared they were gonna get run over.”
While no kids have been hurt yet, since moving to the home in 1991 just the Bosworth family alone has lost six cats and a dog to motorists speeding by.
“A neighbour that lives two doors up from me told me: ‘I have seen at least three dead cats on our road in the last year,” said Cassie, adding that she knows of three other dogs that have been killed.
“I’m tired of burying them.”
Mike adds: “I’m tired of the heartache and heartbreak.”
The rural road has a posted speed limit of 50 kilometres an hour. But the average speed is between 70 and 80, said Cassie.
“In the summer it’s more like 90,” said Cassie, who routinely hears trucks, cars and motorbikes racing up and down the street.
Over the years, Cassie has made little signs, one depicting the number of animals killed and the fact that no kids have been hurt, yet.
She fears it’s only a matter of time before a child is injured or killed, as the road leads to Hillview Elementary and there are a number of families in the area.
“Kids walk to school on this road all the time.”
Most recently, with the help of Adrian from Sunshine Autographics, she paid to have a professional sign made, which is displayed at the top of her driveway.
She’s also made her case to the RCMP, Regional District of North Okanagan and the Ministry of Transportation.
And now she is elated to discover that the ministry is taking her concerns seriously.
“I’m so excited. I’m finally getting somewhere,” said Bosworth.
The ministry has reviewed the situation and is looking at placing an additional 50-kilometre-an-hour sign for southbound traffic – there is currently only one in the northbound lane. They may also relocate the existing speed sign and install a “slow” and “vision limited” sign.
The centre line will likely be repainted next year with a solid line, replacing the faded passing line paint. A speed reader has also been set up on the road.
Cassie and her dad are also hopeful that the RCMP can help slow drivers down.
“They need to send out a couple good fines…and send a message,” said Mike.
