Dear Editor,
I am writing with great concern for my children’s safety. My 6 year old daughter catches the bus across the busy Woolwich St. W (right by the Salem bridge) and up a dirt road. Numerous times while crossing that road with my daughter and 2 year old son, we have had cars raising around the corner across the bridge and slamming their breaks to avoid colliding with us. Speeders are always out during rush hours and that is when we need to catch the bus. I have contacted the township to ask for a new speed (40km/hr) or even just a cross walk sign to alert drivers that children do need to cross there. They told me they can’t do that and to walk up the side of woolwich (which has no sidewalk) and cross at the lights and then walk back down woolwich on the sidewalk and catch the bus. This is not only a way longer distance for my young children, there is no sidewalk on my side of the road so to walk them right beside cars that speed between 60-70km/hr in the 50km/hr zone is ridiculous. I talked to the OPP which also mentioned they couldn’t change speed or add signs. They said they would keep a closer eye on that area and I have not seen one police car catching any of the speeders. I am no super paranoid as yesterday when we were crossing, a dump truck came speeding around the corner from Elora and across the bridge. We were already halfway across the road buy my 2 year old isn’t have fast. I heard the dump truck start to accelerate on the bridge obviously not seeing us cross and then slam his breaks. He squeaked so loud as he hammered the breaks, I think him and I thought we were going to collide. My son screamed in fear and I was furious. This is terrible safety for my family.
The worse part is no one is willing to listen to me and my concerns for my children safety. I am so afraid that it will take one of my children to be a victim before they do anything about this. I feel this isn’t fair that someone needs to be hurt before something can change. Please help me spread the concern. There are other moms fighting for safety by Salem school as well. I am fighting for safety which seems incredibly unfair for my children who are now so afraid.
Thanks
Rachel Sobol