The verdict is in, says County director of public works, Sylvin Cloutier, with a six-year analysis finding speed radar message boards are working.
The County’s been using the device – which displays speed to oncoming motorists in the hopes they’ll slow down – since 2018.
Cloutier said they’d evolved, to display messages that can change based on the actual speed in relation to the posted limit. So, they’ll turn red and tell drivers to slow down, or turn green and thank them for doing the limit. He added the latest models can collect speed and vehicle count data.
“This data can be analyzed to provide speed characteristics along road sections to identify strategic implementation of speed zones and time periods for selective speed enforcement,” the director noted.
Cloutier said the County board had collected “a tremendous” amount of data at 34 locations in those six years.
“The locations tend to be near built-up areas, where residents have concerns of vehicle speeds. Residents have indicated they notice a change in driver behaviour when the (board) is in operation.”
He said they used to keep the monitor in place for extended periods of time, but recently have been moving it every two weeks to ensure more widespread coverage.
He explained that when moved to a new location the unit is set up in stealth, or non display, mode for a week. Speed data is recorded but not displayed. After one week, it’s switched to display mode where it shows operating speeds to oncoming motorists. Speeds continue to be collected from vehicles travelling in the non-display direction.
To understand the impact, he said staff had analyzed all data collected from all locations since 2018.
It was found that displaying speed to motorists reduced overall speeds by up to 10 per cent on average. It was also found that speed was not affected for vehicles travelling in the non-display direction.
For example, he said the unit was used on CR 2/Devil’s Lake area July 13-27. It is a 50 km/hr zone. In stealth mode, 87 per cent of drivers were found to be over the speed limit, averaging about 70 km/hr. When speed was displayed, 51 per cent of drivers were going too fast, averaging 65 km/hr.
He cited another example of CR648/the Wilberforce Road area. In stealth mode from Sept. 20-27, with a posted speed limit of 70 km/hr, 76 per cent of vehicles were speeding, averaging 89 km/hr. With the board on the next week, it dropped to 60 per cent of speeding vehicles, at about 86 km/hr.
He noted the speed data time stamps vehicle speeds allowing staff to identify peak periods of vehicle speeding. “Staff are working to provide this information to the local OPP detachment to help with selective speed enforcement,” Cloutier said.
“Staff believe this program provides a positive impact resulting in safer driving conditions for all road users.”
Coun. Cec Ryall asked if it made sense to have them set up permanently in one or two trouble spots. However, Cloutier responded that if left too long, they blend in and drivers don’t pay attention. “In our experience, moving it around is very effective.”
Coun. Bob Carter said they tested them in Minden and have budgeted to purchase more. He said it had made a noticeable difference in people’s speed, particularly around Archie Stouffer Elementary School, the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena and along Water Street. “We think these are very effective.”
Warden Liz Danielsen said Algonquin Highlands has two that have “really been quite successful.” She said Cloutier’s report was “very helpful information” but “it does indicate that there’s still a lot of people who don’t pay any attention at all.”
