Beware all you River Road leadfoots, Sand Point community safety zone intended to deter speeding: County

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Bruce Mcintyre

The County of Renfrew is reminding drivers that there is a Community Safety Zone on River Road in the area of Sand Point Road in McNab-Braeside.

Over the last three years, the County has introduced various measures to deal with the issue of speeding vehicles around the Hamlet of Sand Point.

One of the measures have included the reduction of the posted speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h.

Despite the change, residents still reported speeding in the area. As a result, the County introduced a new community safety zone pilot project.

County manager of operations Steve Boland said it will be a one-year project to determine if there has been a reduction of speeding vehicles.

"Unfortunately, most motorists continue to speed through the area, and speed studies indicated that approximately 75 per cent of motorists were travelling in excess of 20 km/h over the posted speed limits.

"Therefore, we have followed Section 214 of the Highway Traffic Act and designated a Community Safety Zone.

"What this does is essentially increase the penalties imposed for infractions," Boland said.

Aspects of the Community Safety Zone Pilot Project include:

- For the first time, a County of Renfrew road will have a 50 km/h symbol painted on the roadway to alert motorists of the upcoming Community Safety Zone,

- Special signage is installed alerting motorists to the new community safety zone,

- Speeding motorists can expect increased fines.