Dear Editor:
On Saturday afternoon, Aug. 6, under sunny weather conditions, William Irving of Guelph died in a car crash at the corner of Watson Road South and Maltby Road in Puslinch Township.
Sadly, this was not the first fatal accident to occur here. Additionally, on numerous occasions cars have ended up in the yards of the residents who live at this crossing. It is a dangerous intersection.
Please, Township of Puslinch, take actions to make this intersection safer for all. Some possibilities to consider:
1) Regularly cut back the vegetation along the margins of the roads. I have seen no evidence this has been done this year at this intersection. Visibility is currently impaired (and may have contributed to the Aug. 6 accident). This should be done immediately before there is another accident;
2) The un-posted speed limit on Watson Road is 80km/h. Post signs that indicate the speed limit at regular intervals along Watson Road;
3) Consider reducing the speed limit to 70km/h at this intersection;
4) Encourage the OPP to ticket speeders. I live north of the intersection and have witnessed vehicles travelling faster than 130km/hr, once while passing on a blind hill;
5) Install rumble strips and possibly gentle speed bumps on both Maltby and Watson Roads that will force drivers to notice the intersection and to slow down;
6) Install a traffic light (an expensive option and my least favourite).
If some of these actions had been taken after the last fatal crash at this corner, William Irving may be alive today.
Please, Puslinch, take actions now and prevent another fatality.
Gard Otis,
Puslinch