GUELPH – Drivers better keep their eyes peeled, as larger signs warning them of speed camera locations in Wellington County will not be coming anytime soon.
On March 27, county council voted 9–7 to reject larger signs for the automated speed enforcement (ASE) one-year pilot program, which to date has generated $1.18 million in gross revenue.
“There are other signs that exist which are also important,” said councillor Diane Ballantyne.
“The idea that in our smaller communities we’re going to put oversized signs about automated speed enforcement – I don’t agree with that.”
She noted increased signage would be “visual littering” and send a message that “this sign is somehow more important.”
Councillor Gregg Davidson, who has advocated for speed cameras for years, presented the ASE project update to council.
“One of the complaints of residents and non-residents is that they didn’t know they were entering the zone because all signs are regular size,” said Davidson.
The poor visibility of the cameras and the accompanying signs are among several concerns about the ASE program often expressed by residents and other drivers.
Councillor Jeff Duncan backed Ballantyne’s statement, adding the idea of larger signs “makes us look like we’re overreacting.”
Councillor Doug Breen suggested leaving the signs as they are and placing new signs 100 yards in advance, informing drivers a speed camera is slated to be installed.
“I know I’m adding another sign, but it would be a temporary sign instead of a large sign that might trump some of the others,” Breen explained.
Councillor Michael Dehn, mayor of Erin, took issue with that idea, saying it wouldn’t help non-residents or those who are passing through the community.
Sixty per cent of the 54,000 tickets issued since the ASE program launched on Jan. 15 have gone to those living outside of the county.
“I don’t think we’re talking about giant sizes going in, they are slightly oversized,” councillor Campbell Cork said of the signs that he proposed earlier this month.
“The idea is that they will stand out slightly for a period of time and I think that is important.”
Councillor Andy Lennox, mayor of Wellington North, said the county’s goal with the ASE program “was to change the behaviour and get people to slow down …
“If we keep changing things as we go through this one-year pilot, what information are we going to have to inform us about what decisions we should make a year from now?”
Ultimately the proposal to include larger signs was defeated in a 9-7 vote.
Opposed were councillors Ballantyne, Duncan, Davidson, Breen, Lennox, David Anderson, Earl Campbell, Matthew Bulmer and Mary Llyod.
In favour were Cork, Dehn, Sealey, Steve O’Neill, Shawn Watters, David Turton and Chris White.
