‘Do we have to wait for someone to die?’ Clearview traffic study aims to tackle ‘significant’ speeding issues

Oct 7, 2021 ptlsugd

Clearview Township has embarked on a traffic study in hopes of tackling a major issue across the municipality.

Speeding.

Petra Currie lives on 36/37 Side Road East off County Road 124. The speed limit on the first portion of the road is 50 km/h before it turns into an 80-km/h zone. 

She said the higher limit may have been appropriate decades ago, but, with more homes, she believes 50 km/h is appropriate.

“Even at 80, people are doing at least 100,” she said. “Sometimes I couldn’t tell you the colour of the car that just blew past.”

She said a group of neighbours petitioned the township to get the limit reduced.

“I have children and they are not safe to walk the dog or ride their bikes,” she said. “Do we have to wait for someone to die before it’s addressed?”

Henry Centen of Burnside and Associates made a presentation to council Nov. 9 outlining the scope of the study. It will look at 44 locations around Clearview, and will include data collected in June.

“(The) data that’s been collected would indicate you have a significant volume of speeders,” he said.

Heather McEachern lives on Sunnidale Concession 9, near Stayner, and said the road near her house turns into a “racetrack” on weekends.

“Definitely concerning for young children playing,” she said, adding a few of her chickens have been hit. “Quite a few times, I have witnessed dangerous driving racing past farm equipment.”

Mayor Doug Measures said council has heard the concerns from residents.

“I’m very hopeful we will have some changes to mitigate some of the excessive speeding around our community,” he said. 

The study plans to review and recommend posted speeds, and identify and recommend preferred traffic-calming methods.

By shlf