The township’s public works superintendent says the idea is “ridiculous,” but Puslinch council has agreed to look into the possibility of lowering the speed limit on local roads.
The municipality’s community oriented policing committee, through a report last month from chair Glenna Smith, asked council to consider dropping the speed limit on all township roads to 60 or 70km/hour.
“Speeding on township roads is the most common concern brought to the [committee],” Smith said. “Our feeling is that all township roads should be posted with one speed, not a different speed for each road.”
Councillor Dick?Visser said he is willing to try something to improve safety for residents, many of whom use township roads to walk, run or bicycle.
“I think the nature of the township has really changed,”?Visser said.
Councillor Susan Fielding agreed, adding she has been told Canada Post may no longer deliver mail on some roads if the speed limit remains 80km/hour. Plus, she said, if the speed limit is 80, people will drive 100km/hour, so perhaps lowering the limit to 60 will have people driving at 80.
But Public Works Superintendent Jim Howlett said the idea of a uniform, lower speed limit on all township roads is “ridiculous” – and if that’s the route council wants to take, the limit might as well be 50.
“We can’t stop people from driving like idiots,” Howlett said.
He added people will drive according to road conditions regardless of the posted speed limit. He also noted there has been just one complaint in the last 20 years about speeding on?Concession 4, which was one of the roads highlighted as a concern by Smith.
Mayor Brad Whitcombe and councillor Matthew Bulmer said there needs to be some science to back up the request.
“It seems like a broad brush,” Whitcombe said of the COPs committee proposal.
Bulmer said he is “leaning towards the idea,” but he is not enough of an expert to know if it is the right decision and what is the right speed limit.
Whitcombe said the township will “get feedback” from a traffic expert.
“It has to be appropriate and it has to work,” he said of any speed limit changes.
