Any drivers in the residential areas of downtown Toronto and East York will soon see lower speed limits.
Councillors within those areas recently passed the proposal to drop speed limits to 30 km/h from 40 km/h, which is expected to pass, according to the Toronto Star.
“What we know is the survival rate if you’re hit by a car at 30 km-h is 90 per cent, whereas if the car is going 45 km-h the survival rate is 50 per cent,” Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina Councillor Joe Cressy told the Star.
“How we ensure pedestrian safety is an all-hands-on-deck approach — it’s speed limits, traffic calming measures, enforcement.”
Councillor Josh Matlow proposed the new speed limit after a seven-year-old was killed in his ward when she was hit while crossing the road. The mini-van driver that hit her was charged with careless driving and new safety measures, such as forbidding right turns on red lights, were introduced.
The change is expected to cost $1.1 million to install 4,450 traffic signs and re-time 310 traffic signals for 387.1 kilometres of roadway, which is expected to take two to three years.
But one drawback from the proposed change is that it could upset drivers, according to a report prepared by the city. Also, additional enforcement resources will be needed to ensure speed compliance and for speed limits to be effective, they need to be compatible with the road’s design and other road environment factors.
“The most elementary method of managing speed is to impose speed limits with the primary purpose to enhance safety by reducing the risks imposed by drivers on pedestrians, cyclist and other motorists,” says the report.
“Research has shown that setting speeds arbitrarily low may not achieve the desired results expected by a community.”
The wards that will be affected include Ward 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32.
Toronto isn’t the only city that’s considering to lower speed limits. Queen’s Park is running consultations around whether to allow Ontario cities or towns to lower the default speed limit to 40 km/h from 50 km/h.
Motor vehicle accidents happen and accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident regardless of who caused the accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
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