The Town of Viking is reinforcing its engine retarder brakes bylaw by erecting new signs on the highway.
The signs are meant to deter the use of the brakes within town limits.
Complaints were heard during the summer by Town of Viking Chief Administrative Officer (CA0) Doug Lefsrud and RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Ray Stack.
The concerns involved the “excessive noise” made by commercial vehicles when using their engine retarder brakes when coming into the speed limit zone on the highway, while entering town limits.
Two new signs have since gone up in separate locations that improve visibility for truck drivers. It was decided this would be sufficient and a new bylaw was not required.
The signs say: “Truckers – Use of engine retarder brakes within corporate limits is prohibited.”
The old 20-year-old signs were worn from weather exposure and reflective lighting material on them was no longer effective in getting the attention of drivers in the dark.
The new signs with higher visibility are positioned north of Viking on Highway 36 and east of Viking on Highway 619, which are major truck routes going through the Viking area.
Signs were originally put up two decades ago after citizens complained that the use of the engine retarder brakes caused too much noise for residents living along the highway.
“Violations of the bylaw are handled by the bylaw officer” said CAO Lefsrud.
“The Viking RCMP also have a role to educate and support the commercial vehicle inspections when they are conducted in our community.
“This summer Sgt. Stack and the Viking RCMP Detachment assisted in the inspections in August and it was also identified at that time from the drivers of the commercial vehicles the signage was hard to see,” he said.
Lefsrud stated his gratitude to the community for broaching the topic with their concerns on the issue.
“We want to ensure everyone can enjoy their homes and not be interrupted with the noise of an engine retarder brake,” said Lefsrud.
“This update will improve the visibility of our bylaw to ensure the quiet enjoyment of our citizens.”
The signs were replaced by Emcon Services, with Sgt. Stack attending to have a look at the improved signage. He said people have called the detachment about the noise caused by engine retarder brakes.
However, since this is a town bylaw issue, the RCMP take the time to educate the community and “work together with the bylaw officer and the town office,” on the issue.
Lefsrud referred anyone interested in the pertaining Noise Control Bylaw No. 99-532 and Amendment No. 2003-557 to the Town of Viking website under documents and downloads.
Patricia Harcourt
Editor
