Brant County councillors have adopted a multi-year four-pronged approach to improving road safety.

Councillors approved the Brant Safe Streets strategy at a corporate development meeting held Monday. Their decision is expected to receive final approval when county council meets on May 28.

“This is something that is long overdue,” Brant Mayor David Bailey said. “I think our staff put a lot of work into coming up with a comprehensive plan that will help address concerns raised by residents throughout Brant County.

“This strategy addresses the issues and it has help resolve and it has helped bring council together to solve a common problem.”

The strategy, which will cost just under $1.3 million over seven years includes a range of measures including portable electronic messaging, speed radar and display signs, non-electronic message boards. It also includes “passive” safety measures, such as line painting and signage identifying areas as “Brant Safe Streets” neighbourhoods.

Another prong of the strategy is the adoption of the “Pace Car” program.

Developed by Parachute Canada, a non-profit public safety institution, the program asks motorists to participate by pledging to drive the posted speed limit and be courteous drivers. They are required to sign a pledge form and display an emblem on their vehicle.

The final prong of the strategy aims to influence how roads are constructed and reconstructed. Raised intersections, centre medians with landscaping, roundabouts, speed humps, buffer strips and bike lanes are all examples of how road construction can help with road safety.

The plan calls for the county to spend $210,000 on measures this year including the pace car program and starting the purchase of one mobile system – electronic message sign and speed radar sign – within the next three to six months.

Under the plan, other measures would be implemented annually until 2025 at a cost of between $172,975 and $188,640 annually.

The strategy was endorsed with praise for county staff for their efforts but little discussion.

The report from county staff, which included the strategy, was also notable for what it doesn’t recommend and what it discovered about driving habits in the county.

Turns out speeding isn’t the biggest problem on Brant roads after all, says a report prepared by county staff.

The report says most motorists – about 85 per cent – drive within five kilometres of the posted speed limit on most county roads.

Notable exceptions are on portions of several primary or arterial roads, including Grand River Street North, County Road 18, Highway 24, Colborne Street West, Paris Road and Colborne Street East, the report says.

The findings are based on a review of speed data collected by the county and Brant OPP using radar devices called speed spies. The devices record the speed of each vehicle that passes the device.

Other information provided by Brant OPP appears to support the notion that, despite the numerous concerns expressed by residents in recent months, speeding isn’t the problem many people believe it to be.

Specifically, 32 per cent of the collisions in the county last year were caused by distracted driving, while 24 per cent were the result of running into animals. A further five per cent were caused by motorists following too closely, while another five per cent were caused by failing to yield and improper turns.

Excessive speed was the cause of 1.7 percent of the collisions, the report said.

Still, there is a strongly held belief among residents that speeding is a major problem and the report highlights some of the reasons for that.

They include:

• Although the proportion of drivers who speed is small, this number is increasing as traffic volumes increase.

• Vehicle sizes have increased. with more people driving sport utility and cross-over vehicles. Larger vehicles travelling at the same speed as a small vehicles are perceived to be travelling at a faster speed.

• There are more trucks on county roads.

• And traffic is increasing throughout the county.

Significantly, county staff didn’t recommend measures such as changing speed limits, installing unwarranted all-way stops or rumble strips.

All, including changing speed limits, are of limited value, the study found, noting that enforcement is labour intensive and not the best use of police resources.

Meanwhile, the county has identified several county roads to be initially considered for the new measures:

• Burford – Highway 53 between Jarvis and John Streets; Maple Avenue from Sixth Concession to Melissa Street.

• Cathcart – Highway 53 Village Boundary.

• Harley – Village boundaries both north/south and east/west.

• Scotland – North village boundary (Bishopsgate Road/Simcoe Street) to Church Street West intersection; 0.5 kilometres on Oakland Road to Village Intersection; 0.5 km on Church Street West to Simcoe Street.

• Oakland – North village boundary to south village boundary on King Street North; 0.7 km east to west along Oakland Road.

• Mount Pleasant – 1.3 km north/south along Mt. Pleasant Road; 0.5 km east/west along Burtch Road.

• Cainsville – 0.86 km along County Road 18 from Colborne Street East to the train overpass.

• St George – St. George Road from Highgate Drive to Victor Boulevard and on Beverly Street from Scott Street to Tollhurst Road.

• Paris – Silver Street from Grand River Street North to Oak Avenue, Cobblestone Drive; Irongate Drive, Willow Street from Brock Street to the rail trail, King Edward Street from Rest Acres Road to Washington Street.

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