SooToday received the following letter to the editor from reader Matthew Toffelmire regarding speed enforcement on Black Road:
Ever since we've had Black Road expanded to what it is today, the posted speed limit has been something of a joke.
Previously, while it was one lane in either direction, the posted limit was 70 km/h. During construction, the limit was dropped to 50, and now the wider, multi-lane stretch of the Trans-Canada highway is a mere 60 km/h.
But it doesn't take much to notice, no one drives that speed. Without paying attention to my own speed, I usually find myself at about 70, but it seems most vehicles are getting up near 80, which is a full 20 km/h over the posted limit.
With such a difference in speeds on that road, and even on Second Line, so many people going so many different speeds, I feel it would be much safer to get a single, enforced, standard speed. Which is rather what speed limits were supposed to do. A safe, maximum limit, which if everyone follows, will allow everyone to flow through traffic at the same speed. Which is much better than weaving in and out from lane to lane.
But when a city posts a speed limit not appropriate to the roadway, people will generally disregard the signs, and simply drive whatever speed they want. The trouble with that is, as speed increases, so does the distance it takes to stop in an emergency. If you double your speed, you can expect your stopping distance to multiply by four. That's a huge difference.
Thus far, I'm not aware of any major collisions on Black Road, but I think it's time the city reevaluate the posted speed limit. I for one would love to learn the reasoning to this seemingly arbitrary adjustment. And if 60 is what it should be, then perhaps we need police out there doing some traffic enforcement.
Matthew Toffelmire