Waterloo drivers are going slightly slower, new report says
Drivers in the City of Waterloo have slowed down slightly, but not by a lot, according to a new report.
It comes after city council saw a need to lower the speed, so staff reduced many posted speed limits in Waterloo by 10 km/h or 20 km/h in a pair of wards.
Staff are seeing signs of their efforts after installing 498 reduced speed limit signs.
“What we noticed is that in general, drivers reduce their speeds in all of those areas by one to three km/h,” said Jenny Renaud, manager of transportation engineering for the City of Waterloo.
The new speeds in Wards 2 and 7 are now 30 km/h or 40 km/h where posted speeds were previously 50 km/hr.
The average driving speeds dropped by 2.3 km/h. Aside from the fastest 15 per cent of drivers, there has been a speed reduction of 4.4 km/h.
At first glance, it may not seem like it moves the needle much, but staff say otherwise.
“It’s statistically proven that the lower speeds have reduced the severity of injury or fatalities on roads,” said Renaud.
A City of Toronto study shows a reduction in vehicle operating speeds from 50 km/h to 40km/h increases the chance of survival from 15 per cent to 70 per cent for a pedestrian hit by a vehicle. This rate increased to 90 per cent for operating speeds of 30 km/h.
Reduced speed limits in Waterloo are also being credited for lowering speeds in school zones by an average of 2.3 km/h, where speed limits are often 30 km/h.
This slight reduction doesn’t come as a surprise to city staff.
“So that was exactly what we were expecting and advised,” said Renaud. “And that is based on the research that we did, not only in other Ontario municipalities, but those across Canada.”
While the city does consider this a success, it doesn’t mean people aren’t still speeding.
“We know that it’s not a silver bullet by just posting signs, but it is one step in that direction,” said Renaud.
Road design, including the size of it and what’s nearby, come into play too.
Three other wards will see reduced speed signs posted in the spring. The final two wards will see the reduced speed limits in 2025.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977485.1721935249!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
LIVE UPDATES Rain reduces wildfire activity, aids firefighters: Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials said Thursday night that rain over the day resulted in "minimal fire behaviour and spread."
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.