The city must decide whether to replace hundreds of "tiger tail" traffic-calming signs across Hamilton after a resident pointed out they are the wrong colour.

The red-and-orange striped rectangles are commonly installed below stops signs across Hamilton — particularly where residents report motorists zooming through controlled intersections without halting.

But Suzie Scott was not a fan of the "ugly" and "unnecessary" tiger tails recently installed on her street, at the intersection of Balmoral and Justine avenues. After some research, she suggested the multicoloured signs run afoul of provincial traffic rules.

Hamilton's tiger tails do not break the rules because the Ontario Traffic Manual has no specific standards for such signs, said city traffic and roads director Edward Soldo.

But the province does provide "guidance" that suggests orange is for construction signs, for example. And Soldo said ideally, "accessory" signs on stop signs should be "consistent." To him, that means tiger tails added in future should be red and white, rather than orange and red.

Scott spoke to the public works committee Monday about the colourful conundrum, questioning how much mass replacement of popular signs would cost. "How much will this mistake cost us?" she asked.

The slim, striped rectangles attached to stop sign poles cost about $150 each, if you take into account manufacturing and installation. Soldo did not know how many such signs exist across the city, but said it is easily "hundreds."

Soldo said he plans to ensure future tiger tails will be red and white "going forward."

But he added the city is not legally required to immediately remove the existing tiger-themed motorist warning signs. Soldo committed to concerned councillors he would report back on whether replacement is needed at all — and if so, how that could happen in a "cost-effective" manner.

Some councillor made it clear they don't see any problem with the venerable red-and-orange signs.

"Leave my tiger tails alone," said Ward 4 Coun. Sam Merulla, who noted his east end residents often ask for the signs and this is the first complaint that he has encountered.

Coun. Maria Pearson said she understands the desire to keep sign colours "consistent" to ensure motorists do not become confused. But she also supported the idea of the tiger tails, noting some drivers "just don't see the stop signs" based on complaints from residents in her Stoney Creek ward.

mvandongen@thespec.com

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