PUSLINCH – Councillors here had a face-to-face conversation with OPP brass on Nov. 29, during which they hammered home concerns about speeding, speed limits, and the need for more traffic enforcement in the township.
Wellington County OPP Inspector Steve Thomas, Police Services Board (PSB)chair Earl Campbell, county CAO Scott Wilson and county engineer Don Kudo appeared as a delegation at the invitation of council.
Campbell noted a new PSB Act is to come into effect next year and that could change a lot of things.
Over the course of the exchange, which lasted more than an hour, Campbell mentioned the composition of the board could change due to the new legislation, and he noted that while the county funds the OPP here, the organization answers to the Solicitor General.
The board will develop a new strategic plan and from that a community safety and wellbeing plan, and a communication plan to keep citizens and municipalities informed.
Councillor Jessica Goyda said it was great to have the OPP annual report back and councillor Russell Hurst said a new communications strategy would provide opportunity for the OPP to “tell your story.”
‘Black Cats’
Because they can be “covertly deployed,” Thomas said Black Cat speed monitoring devices get a true picture of how often and how fast a road is travelled.
When the analyzed data indicates drivers are consistently moving in the 85th percentile – i.e. 15km/h over the limit – that’s when police are deployed.
“When we get the data, we have the traffic unit assign an officer to the area of enforcement,” Thomas said. “But we also let other officers know. If they have the time, they also do traffic enforcement.”
Goyda said the data provided “suggests Puslinch needs more enforcement in general.”
Councillor John Sepulis wanted to know how that decision is made.
“We try to use the metrics of collision, complaints and Black Cat data to determine where we focus our attention,” Thomas said.
“If we want more traffic enforcement and we are willing to pay for it, can we do it?” Sepulis asked.
In a word, no – there is a process, Thomas said.
Campbell said the board recently approved hiring seven more traffic officers – part of 22 new hires approved by the board, so that should help.
Thomas said while they focus attention in areas where speeding is 15km/h over the limit, “It’s not that we give a free pass,” he said. “Speeding is speeding.”
When it comes to impaired driving, Thomas suggested calling 911 to report a suspected impaired driver.
“It is an emergency,” he said.
Councillor Sara Bailey said while the OPP has presented to high school students in the county about road and driver education, all Puslinch high schoolers go to Guelph schools and were missed from these presentations.
Thomas said he’d consider that as OPP officials “reimagine” how to reach students.
Sepulis put forward a motion that was approved by council: that the county purchase more Black Cats for member municipalities to use.
Lake Road
County engineer Don Kudo took questions about Lake Road, which had road improvements done over the summer and now has a new speed limit.
Lake Road is also Wellington Road 32 and is a county road. Kudo said the road was reconfigured, a new T-intersection was installed at Lake Road and Concession 2, the road is narrower with paved shoulders, curbs and gutters, and there is a pedestrian crosswalk near the lake access point.
The speed limit was reduced to 60km/h near the residential area and increased to 80km/h in the rural area.
Kudo said the speed limits were set based on the data the county had collected and they’ll be monitoring the area to see how compliant drivers are.
Mayor James Seeley said he approved of the road improvements.
“The county did an excellent job,” he said, adding the narrower roads and new speed limits should make it safer there.
“It’s all good work,” he said.
