Speeding in residential neighbourhoods is one of the most frequent concerns expressed to City staff and elected officials. Excessive speed in residential areas is dangerous and often viewed as destructive to the neighbourhood’s "sense of community".
Each year, the City receives many inquiries about installing stop signs as a way to reduce speeding. Research shows that there are other measures that are often more effective than adding more stop signs. Furthermore, the purpose of a stop sign is to assign the right-of-way at an intersection, not to control speeding. Overuse of stop signs reduces their effectiveness and, if installed where not warranted, the device is ignored by motorists who tend to speed up between stop sign controlled intersections rather than slow down. Also, motorists begin to "roll through" what they deem to be an unnecessary stop or not stop at all, creating a more dangerous situation.
The New City Of Hamilton has established a Neighbourhood "Speed Watch" program to encourage residents to become involved in addressing speeding problems in their neighbourhoods. Similar programs have been adopted in Burlington, Guelph, Mississauga and Niagara Falls.
Often, motorists who speed through residential neighbourhoods are unaware of the effect their actions have on the peace and safety of neighbourhood streets.
Neighbourhood Speed Watch is a public awareness program in which concerned citizens can take an active role in solving the problem of speeding in their own neighbourhoods.
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Public and community awareness
It is an educational program designed to raise public awareness of the actual speeds motorists are traveling within a neighbourhood.
The program promotes safe and prudent driving by motorists traveling on neighbourhood streets. The program will educate the driver on the posted speed of the road and make them aware of the speed they are traveling.
The program allows residents to play an active roll in alerting motorists of their rate of speed while traveling through area neighbourhoods. Participation in the program gives a sense of pride for your community.
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Gathering speed related data
Traffic Engineering and Operations staff will enter the vehicular speed data into a computer program so that statistics on speed can be examined. The data is filed to determine problem locations and speed patterns throughout the City.
Numerous phone calls are received requesting enforcement of speeding on residential streets. The program will make the community aware of the extent of the speeding problem and will allow Police to prioritize enforcement efforts.
Lower traffic speeds in your neighbourhood provide a safer environment for your children, all pedestrians and cyclists, may potentially reduce the number and severity of collisions, and will promote a community oriented area.
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Volunteers, Hamilton Auxiliary Police or Community Organizations can monitor and record the actual speed motorists are traveling in their neighbourhood. Motorists in serious violation of the speed limit are recorded and a report is given to the Hamilton Police, who in turn may send a cautionary letter or visit the violator. |
Program Procedure
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Requests to use the radar board must be submitted in writing to the Manager of Traffic Engineering and Operations at the City of Hamilton or to the Auxiliary at the Hamilton Police. The written request must identify the location and the number of days (one week maximum) when the board is to be used.
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Staff will confirm the availability of the board for the requested dates and arrange an appointment with the applicant for safety training and operation of radar equipment. Applicants must sign an Agreement Form / Liability Waiver prior to using the radar equipment.
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Once the radar board use is complete, the unit and all completed "Citizen Report Forms" are returned to the Traffic Engineering and Operations Section, 3rd floor, Hamilton City Centre (formerly Eaton's Centre).
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Staff will review the data collected to assist the community in their effort to reduce speeds.
Click here to download our brochure.
For more details about the Neighbourhood Speed Watch Program
or traffic related concerns, please call: (905) 546-2424 ext 5920.