Northumberland County is introducing traffic-calming flashing signals in the vicinity of six schools to reduce the speed of motorists and promote a safer environment for students as they travel to and from school.
Those areas will be subject to speed reductions during school hours.
“We are investing in the safety of our children by introducing traffic-calming flashing signals near these schools as a proactive step towards creating safer environments for our young residents,” said Denise Marshall, Director of Public Works for Northumberland County.
In response to growing concerns about school zone safety, Northumberland County has enacted a new by-law aimed at controlling speeds near schools during regular school hours.
After consultation with schools and the OPP, the speed limit on county roads around schools has been officially reduced to 40 km/h from the previous 50 km/h or 60 km/h.
There are 11 schools on county roads, with five of them already having signage and speed reduction requirements in place.
The six remaining schools that have been specifically targeted for the new safety enhancements include:
- North Hope Central Public School – County Road 9
- Northumberland Hills Public School – County Road 25
- Spring Valley Public School – County Road 26
- Roseneath Centennial Public School – County Road 45
- Dale Road Senior Public School – County Road 74
- Plainville Public School – County Road 18
Marshall says, “These changes are crucial steps towards increasing driver awareness and creating safer environments for the well-being of our children when they are near their schools.”
To further enhance safety and ensure the effectiveness of these speed reductions, Northumberland County offers the following suggestions for motorists:
Obey Speed Limits: adhere to the posted speed limits, especially in school zones. Reduced speeds provide drivers with more time to react to unexpected situations and reduce the severity of accidents.
Be Vigilant: Pay close attention to school zone signage and flashing signals. When beacons are flashing, it is a clear indication to reduce your speed to 40 km/h.
Yield to Pedestrians: Always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, especially at crosswalks and intersections.
