Speeding up to slow down

At the latest Oshawa city council meeting, multiple councillors questioned the time it takes for city staff to review and install a new stop sign.

Approving the installation of a stop sign can often take months due to tests and making sure the appropriate funds are in place. But how long is too long?

Most of the time residents requesting the installation of a new stop sign live in the area, and see the dangerous way people drive in their neighbourhoods. Simply put, they’re afraid.

The area in question is in front of Kedron Park on Britannia Avenue East and is an area which is tempting for speeders.

It’s in the middle of a suburban area, but has the appearance of a main street, and is empty, which can often tempt some drivers into speeding.

Despite the posted speed limit of 40 km/h, and speedboards flashing to let drivers know they are speeding, residents are still afraid in the area.

In 2018 across Canada, the number of fatalities from motor vehicle collisions was 1,922, up 3.6 per cent from 2017’s total.

It’s a reasonable request to install stop signs in an area which has a park, and will therefore see children playing during pandemic-free times.

Simply put, isn’t it better to be safe than sorry? Due diligence is important, but if people are feeling unsafe, there’s generally a reason for that fear.

In terms of the city’s process, while installing a stop sign can take months, oftentimes the residents who have reached out won’t hear back from the city right away, and are left in limbo.

The people who know a neighbourhood best are its residents, and while it is good the city does its due diligence, it’s time to loosen the restrictions on stop sign installations, and to speed up the process of slowing drivers down.