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Speed limits are dropping to 40 km/h in residential neighbourhoods and 30 km/h in school zones across Hamilton.

Earlier this month, council directed city staff to begin reducing the speed limit in residential neighbourhoods across the city.

Beginning this week, the city says, residents will notice new signs and posted speed limits within select residential neighbourhoods, dropping from 50 km/hr to 40km/hr, and to 30km/hr in school zones.



The City plans to install signage across 45 neighbourhoods each year for the next three years, starting with the Ainslie Wood neighbourhood.

"The City receives approximately 700 requests annually from residents concerned with speeding and dangerous driving on residential roads," said Edward Soldo, Director, Transportation Operations and Maintenance, Public Works, in a press release issued Tuesday (Dec. 17).

"Servicing these requests on a case by case basis is costly and inefficient, so implementing speed limit reductions on a neighbourhood basis allows us to meet the safety needs of residents quicker."

New signs will be posted on both sides of the roadway creating a 'gateway' feature as people enter and exit residential neighbourhoods.



Statistics show that speeding is one of the largest contributing factors in the cause and severity of collisions.

Pedestrians have a 41 per cent higher chance of survival if struck by a car driving 40 km/hr than a car driving 50 km/hr. This is because a slower moving vehicle requires less distance to stop and gives the driver more time to react.

According to the World Health Organization, pedestrians have a 90 per cent chance of surviving a car crash at 30 km/hr or below.

As part of its goal of achieving Vision Zero in Hamilton, the City aims to change driver behaviour and protect vulnerable populations by enforcing safer speeds across the city.

Find out if their neighbourhood is included in phase one of the project here.