Speed irks residents who aren’t seeing any changes on the road.
Doug Burr, who recently retired, began spending more time at his home on Edward Avenue.
With four grandchildren, he is concerned by the lack of care others show by driving at high rates of speed in residential neighbourhoods.
“They come around the corner too fast,” he said of the area near Pelham Corners Park.
“They’re not slowing down even when kids are outside and it’s scary.”
Denise Grummett runs a home daycare and consistently sees the dangers of drivers abusing a posted 50 km/h limit along Welland Road.
While walking with the children, she finds herself picking up the pace when crossing the road because drivers are distracted by cell phones.
“Life is just too busy and the chaos continues with you into your car,” she said. “Everyone is in a rush and it’s creating a dangerous environment for everyone.”
With construction along Highway 20 and many other roads in Pelham, Welland Road has turned into a detour for those heading through town.
Despite the increased number of cars, Grummett says it’s not always those folks causing the chaos on the roads.
“It isn’t something that is new or is going to go away anytime soon.
“I find it’s typically not people going one place to another – it’s the people who live here who are the ones speeding and that’s the startling part of all this.”
A solution for this problem may seem simple but hasn’t been accomplished quite yet.
Burr read an article in the Toronto Star about a neighbourhood put up over 400 signs telling motorists to use the left pedal instead of the right in residential areas.
The lawn signs may seem like a strange way to combat speeders, but it provides a promise from each person donning the sign that they’ll slow down in their own neighbourhood – something that isn’t happening in Pelham.
Burr took the idea to his councillors who agreed the signs would make a difference but has yet to hear back.
The signs – which would politely remind residents people – are a cheap way of creating a movement of awareness and could also be used in many rural areas of Pelham, Burr says.
“We just want something done before it’s too late.”
Grummett agrees with Burr. With a limited police presence after the school year begins, residents are left on their own.
Having four to five children in her care during the week, her walks are a constant challenge of enjoying the fresh air while providing a safe stroll for the kids.
“When you are going that speed in neighbourhoods, you can’t predict who or what is going to come onto the road. It’s just dangerous overall and it shouldn’t have to have a tragedy to make people finally realize that this is a real problem.”
Last week, town council at its regular meeting heard similar complaints about speeding along Effingham Street from Mike Pozzobon.
It has become a favourite raceway with cars going three times the posted speed limits, he said. Recently there was a fatal motorcycle accident in the area as well as a number of car accidents.
Town councillors said they have received speeding complaints from across the town and will launch a speed study drawing in residents and the police to look for solutions.
