Town council has decided to increase the default speed limit on Erin’s rural roads from 50km/h to 80km/h.
The Highway Traffic Act stipulates that the speed limit on roads outside built up areas will be 50km/hour, unless otherwise posted.
But Roads Superintendent Larry Van Wyck told council on March 3 that stipulation creates “ambiguity” and has led to several operational issues, including:
– where to place property entrances, which require clear sight lines based on the speed limit;
– how far from intersections to locate warning signs (also based on speed);
– racing legislation, which dictates someone driving 100km/hour (50km over the current limit) on a rural road could be charged with racing;
– varying speed limits on boundary roads; and
– the classification of roads, which is based on speed limit, among other factors.
Van Wyck suggested council pass a bylaw with a default speed limit of 80km/hour unless otherwise posted. The move would likely require new signs at entrances to urban areas, more warning signs for hills and curves, and the trimming of roadside trees in some areas, he said.
Van Wyck also added all urban areas should have a speed limit of 40km/hour. Currently, some are 50 and others are 40.
Councillor Barb Tocher liked the idea, saying she wants as little change as possible.
She explained people are going to drive 80 on rural roads anyway, so a speed limit of 50 means a they are all breaking the law, which makes little sense.
Besides, it is not as if there is a safety issue and there are an abundance of crashes on rural roads, Tocher added.
Van Wyck agreed, and told council the new bylaw would repeal all existing speed bylaws and would include a schedule of areas where the speed limit will be 40km/hour (all others will be 80km/hour).
Council voted 4-1 in favour of a resolution approving the rural (80) and urban (40) speed limits and directing staff to draft a bylaw for council’s consideration. Only councillor John Brennan was opposed.
