City looking at options to slow traffic to make roads safer
The city is looking to slow people down on city roads.
Joe Kelly, traffic management supervisor for Kawartha Lakes, told council that electronic speed boards are an effective alternative form of traffic calming that can help accomplish this.
Kelly said that the current budget only allows for another two to four signs to be purchased a year at $6,000-$10,000 apiece. Kelly made it clear to council that the city will be looking at all available options including automatic traffic enforcement and zero tolerance enforcement in community safety zones to deal with the issue of speeding and the accidents it causes.
Electronic speed boards are best described as radar-equipped lighted billboards on wheels that inform the driver what speed they are going. These signs are not connected to the police, nor do they issue tickets. Their sole goal, when placed at designated areas in the city, are to educate the driver and get them to slow down and drive the posted limit.
Kelly sparked a lively discussion with his statement to council that if they want to, they could expand the program and put more of these signs in different locations around the city.
Deputy Mayor Tracy Richardson told Kelly that “every councillor would love to have these boards in their community” and asked the city staffer what factors determine where the currently existing signs get placed.
“Traffic volume, accidents reported, and the type of road,” said Kelly.
Richardson said there are community groups in her ward wanting to help the city purchase more of the signs, and wondered if the city could save by making bulk purchases of the product from the manufacturer.
Kelly answered that at least at this time there is no advantage to bulk purchase. He also suggested that the city “should keep decisions inhouse to ensure the signs go where they are needed” rather than where a community group would like them placed.
Councillor Ron Ashmore wanted to know how easily the signs already purchased could be rotated around to different sites in the city.
“We need a qualified bucket truck operator for installation,” Kelly said. “We have looked for smaller ones that are easier to install and right now they don’t exist.”
Councillor Emmett Yeo asked if cottage groups could purchase the signs for use on private roads, and whether these signs are a regulated item that not just anyone could buy.
Kelly said that they could be used on a private road, and that their purchase by cottage associations is not prohibited.
“I am often travelling east to Prince Edward Island,” Yeo said. “There are many more signs in P.E.I. They are virtually in every community. Most communities have signs at both entrance and exit points to the communities.”
“We have to be careful that we don’t overuse these signs and they are ignored,” Kelly said, “but I do see a future where key hamlets on important roads get multiple signs.”
There are additional changes being contemplated by the city to reduce speed and make roads safer beyond the many 40 km/hr speed zones already in place, and the increased use of electronic speed boards.
Kelly told council that in 2024 traffic calming measures in the city may include automatic traffic enforcement (the current name for photoradar) and the creation of more community safety zones with zero tolerance enforcement.
In an interview with the Advocate, Kelly said under the Highway Traffic Act a local council can designate a part of a road under its jurisdiction as a community safety zone – if public safety is of special concern on that part of the road.
“When signed, speeding fines are doubled” in such areas.
Academic studies, cited by a number of municipalities, conclude that speeding is a significant contributing factor leading to severe injuries and fatal collisions worldwide.
The likelihood of survival in a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian is approximately 40 per cent when the vehicle is travelling at 50 km per hour, according to several studies.
“However, the likelihood of survival increases to 75 per cent when the vehicle is travelling at 40 km per hour or below. Driving at lower speeds enables drivers to stop within a shorter distance, have a wider field of vision and provide more time to react to road hazards or other road users.”
Councillor Mike Perry told council that traffic calming on Long Beach Road, near Cameron, has been an issue for a long time, and was top-of-mind for voters in the last campaign.
“The road is treated as a runway by drivers,” Perry said, “and unfortunately people must cross it to get to their waterfront.”
Perry told the Advocate that staff has recommended Long Beach Road be declared a community safety zone.
Additional discussion about the purchase of more electronic traffic boards is possible in a matter of weeks, as the city prepares to further discuss its 2024 operating and capital budgets in late November and early December.
You wonderful ideas and they work to a point. I have been part of traffic calming measures before and the biggest problem is with enforcement. Presently I live on Snug Harbour rd and the speed is 40k but traffic still drives between 50 -60k sometimes more and 70% are resident’s. There is no enforcement here ever so how is the city going to enforce speed limits throughout? I realize I live in O P P area but the question of enforcement applies all over Kawartha lakes.
Thanks Kay
maybe focus on more enforcement of some traffic rules? watched 5 cars in a row turn right on the “no right on red” at Angeline & Hwy 7 yesterday. people regularly blow stops signs on the cross streets up and down William St. & Victoria St. in Lindsay. why is there never enforcement on those things? instead the region wants to waste tens of thousands of dollars for a sign to what, verify that your speedometer readings are accurate? those signs dont do anything to slow down people – i like to see if i can hit 69km/h anytime i see one.
OR, maybe focus on more rigorous testing and taking licenses away from seniors who are far past their driving expiration date?
lets start mandatory drive testing every two years for seniors starting at 65, and yearly at 80.
not just driving, but test reflexes, eye sight and cognitive ability in a quick response situation.
the big accident on Hwy 7 this week was involving a 99-yr old woman.
sorry, but she simply does not have the physical skills or reaction times to be able to handle a motor vehicle.
also explain why seniors driving 60-70km/h on Hwy 7 & Hwy 35 are never considered a problem? far more dangerous than speeding.
modern vehicles are very capable of stopping more quickly than when these speed limits were installed, it’s time to modernize the view of speed limits to account for the increased capabilities of the vehicles on the road. speed limits of 40km/h are just absurd.
most modern cars will do 40km/h if you put it in drive without even stepping on the gas pedal.
I’m seeing all these new 60 zones everywhere, they’re lowering speed limits in towns. This is ridiculous. Maybe tackle the real problem, BAD DRIVERS! Roads are meant to get you places quicker and these new speed limits are defeating that purpose
Lindsay is the only town I’ve been in that has no police to enforce speed limits. I’ve seen 5 or 6 police cars respond to silly disturbances here in Lindsay. Last year ,my neighbors loud mouthed tenant would regularly get into loud arguments with his girlfriend and the police would be called. Sometimes there would be 7 or 8 police cars lined up on the street for an hour or more, responding to these arguments. Most of those highly trained cops just standing around or sitting in their warm cars while 2 cops talked to the loud mouth. No one was ever arrested. Yet there’s no police available for speed enforcement? This is ridiculous.