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PEEL REGION – SUMMARY OF SPEED REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

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Author: Seema Ansari, C.E.T

Seema Ansari is the Supervisor of Transportation Operations and Safety at the Region of Peel and serves as the Vision Zero lead for the region. She is a Certified Engineering Technologist (C.E.T) with over 16 years of experience in Road Safety. Seema has been pivotal in developing and implementing the Region of Peel's Vision Zero Road Safety Strategic Plan, aimed at reducing and ultimately eliminating fatal and injury collisions in the Region.

A dedicated leader, Seema's expertise spans all aspects of transportation operations and safety. She fosters collaboration and innovation to achieve strategic safety goals, leading a team of professionals in projects that prioritize road safety, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. Her initiatives have significantly reduced traffic collisions and enhanced safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and all road users. She continues to advocate for safer and more sustainable transportation systems through strategic planning and community-focused solutions.

Abstract: The Region of Peel has implemented Vision Zero strategies to reduce speeding and enhance road safety. Key interventions include radar feedback signs, traffic recorders, calming devices, smaller curb radii, smart channels, roundabouts, automated enforcement, and public awareness campaigns. These measures are strategically deployed based on road functions and user needs. Upcoming initiatives involve lowering speed limits on major roads. The effectiveness of these interventions is demonstrated by reduced operating speeds, supporting the Region's Vision Zero commitment to reduce and ultimately eliminate injuries and fatalities.

Advancing Safety: Speed Reduction Interventions in the Region of Peel 

By implementing Vision Zero-inspired strategies, Peel Region is working to make its roads safer for all users. Speeding has devastating consequences, ranking among the leading causes of collisions, resulting in severe injuries, and fatalities. Targeted speed reduction measures have been implemented to address this critical issue as part of the Region of Peel’s commitment to Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate all serious injuries and fatal collisions.

Interventions to Reduce Speeds  

A range of measures have been introduced to tackle speeding and enhance safety in the Region of Peel. Some of the key interventions include:  

  1. Radar Feedback Signs: Installed permanently or placed on trailers for 2-4 week periods, these signs inform drivers of their speeds, encouraging safer driving behaviour.  
  2. Automatic Traffic Recorder (ATR): These devices collect speed data, enabling better insights and facilitating collaboration with the police for speeding enforcement.  
  3. Traffic Calming Devices: These are a mix of seasonal and permanent horizontal deflection devices (e.g., collapsible signs) and vertical deflection methods, like speed cushions, which are deployed to slow down traffic effectively.  
  4. Smaller Curb Radii and Truck Aprons: A smaller curb radius creates a tighter turning angle, which forces passenger-type vehicles to slow down to navigate the turn safely while allowing the trucks to manoeuvre the intersection.
  5. Smart Channels: Forces vehicles to slow down at the intersection when making right-hand turns due to their sharper entry angle (around 70 degrees).
  6. Roundabouts: Designed to keep traffic flowing while naturally slowing drivers down as they approach and enter the roundabouts.
  7. Automated Speed Enforcement: Red-light cameras and radar speed signs to monitor and deter speeding.
  8. Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating road users about the dangers of speeding through community programs campaigns like the "Don't Speed" campaign aimed to change perceptions about speeding and emphasize its dangers.

Targeted Areas of Implementation

These measures have been strategically deployed based on road functions and user needs:  

  1. Vertical Deflection (Speed Cushions): Seasonal installations used on two-lane collector roads that are truck restricted to slow down vehicles.  
  2. Horizontal Deflection (Collapsible Signs): Used on two-lane rural roads to create safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.  
  3. Non-Intrusive Measures (Radar Feedback and Pavement Markings): Applied across various road types for broad impact to reduce speeding.
  4. Automated Speed Enforcement: Radar feedback cameras are deployed in School zones and Community Safety Zones to discourage speeding.

Upcoming Speed Reduction Initiatives 

The Region of Peel is taking proactive steps to address evolving roadway dynamics. With Council approval, lowering of speed limits is underway on the following Regional roads to slow down traffic and improve safety: Derry Road, Dixie Road, Mayfield Road, The Gore Road, Queen Street and Winston Churchill Boulevard. These changes reflect the Region’s commitment to adapt to development and increase road safety for all modes of travel.

The Driving Force Behind These Efforts 

With the Region’s continued growth, the nature and functionality of its roads are shifting. New users and evolving traffic patterns have necessitated a review of speed limits. Comprehensive proactive reviews were conducted in 2023 and 2024 and focused on roads with a posted speed limit of 70 km/h. The findings led to reductions in speed limits on these roads to better align with safety objectives.

 Demonstrated Effectiveness  

The implementation of the previously mentioned road safety measures and reducing posted speed limits has proven successful, with operating speeds reduced by 2-7 km/h depending on the road type and initial speed limit. These reductions highlight the effectiveness of the Region’s traffic calming efforts in creating safer driving conditions.

Vision Zero Commitment

As the Region of Peel continues to invest in safety through its Vision Zero Road Safety Strategic Plan, these countermeasures not only reduce speeds but also pave the way for a future where collisions resulting in fatalities and severe injuries are eliminated. With innovative measures, community engagement, and a focus on sustainability, Peel Region roads are becoming safer for all road users.