Region of Waterloo report puts roundabout safety under the microscope
Roundabouts are under the microscope in Waterloo region as regional councillors are reviewing the safety of the road design following a pair of serious collisions involving pedestrians.
Intersections like the one at Erb Street and Ira Needles Boulevard in Waterloo are under renewed focus following a pair of serious crashes in December just days apart involving pedestrians at roundabouts -- including a fatality.
“It’s kind of nerve-wracking sometimes,” said Waterloo region resident Nicholas.
The Region of Waterloo has prepared a report focusing on road safety concerns, which shows there are an average of four injury collisions every day in the region.
On Monday, a pair of pedestrian-involved crashes again brought the issue into focus after a 58-year-old man in Cambridge was sent to an out-of-region hospital with serious injuries, while a pedestrian and two others were hurt in a Kitchener crash at a busy intersection.
Despite the recent incidents, the road safety program report indicates roads are getting safer.
“There is a level of, I guess, heightened anxiety because you’re looking at many different things,” said Region of Waterloo Coun. Colleen James.
Adding: “There’s still a lot of work to be done, education to be done, but also navigating some of the things that have come up in council like speeding.”
A ten-year trend ending in 2020 shows the number of vehicular collisions per capita has been on the decline. The same is shown for pedestrian collisions.
When it comes to fatal crashes, there's a steep drop in the trend with an uptick from 2019 to 2020.
“The research does show that the fatalities and the seriousness of accidents are far less with roundabouts, but I do think as we continue to grow, it’s going to be an adjustment for the community,” said Coun. James.
The report said what does not work to slow traffic and make roads safer is lower posted speed limits and traffic control. Localized police enforcement, driver feedback signs and special pavement markings.
What does work, according to the report, is urbanizing roads, narrower lanes, raised medians and refuge islands, driveways and developments close to roads.
When it comes to crosswalks versus signalized intersections, the report indicates in nearly every case where a traffic signal is installed collisions have jumped.
There are plans to continue evolving intersection design, including protected intersections, as well as a study on traffic calming in rural hamlets, and reviews of all-way stops, and pedestrian crossings.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.