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CITY OF GREATER SUDBURY LAUNCHES SPEED WATCH PROGRAM |
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Motorists travelling Hwy 69 N are reminded to slow down with today’s
launch of Speed Watch, an initiative of the City of Greater Sudbury and
the Greater Sudbury Police Service to reduce traffic speed on area roads
through public awareness and community action.
Two portable radar units have been purchased on behalf of citizens of the
City of Greater Sudbury. One large unit with a billboard size display
board is mounted on a trailer for transport to various municipal roads
throughout the City. A second smaller unit is available for loan to
citizens who volunteer to monitor traffic speed in residential
neighbourhoods. Both radar units display the maximum speed limit and the
speed of passing vehicles.
“Most people who speed are caught in the day-to-day rush and need a
reminder,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Jim Gordon. “I expect that many
drivers will look at the radar display and say
‘I didn’t realize I was going that fast!’”. He added: “Speed
Watch is another way for the City to get the message out that the safety
of citizens is our first and foremost concern.”
“Speed Watch is the direct result of a public meeting held in Ward 3 to
develop solutions to get people to slow down on Highway 69 North where
excessive speeding through the Guilletville-McCrea Heights corridor
remains a concern,” said Ward 3 Councillor and Deputy Mayor Ron Dupuis.
“One member of the committee dealing with this issue, Inspector Susan
Evans of the Greater Sudbury Police Service, wrote all over North America
looking for the best product. We submitted a report to Council and got the
radar units approved. Speed Watch has been in the works for over a year
and I am pleased to see that it is now officially underway in our City.”
Tickets are not issued under the Speed Watch program but chronic speeding
on municipal roads could result in a “zero tolerance” speed
enforcement campaign by the Greater Sudbury Police Service. Greater
Sudbury Police may also issue cautionary letters to registered owners of
vehicles identified as exceeding the speed limit in residential
neighbourhoods.
“Speed Watch has two components,” said Ward 3 Councillor Louise
Portelance. “The first is public awareness by displaying traffic speed
on major municipal roads like Highway 69 North. The second is community
action by encouraging citizens to monitor traffic speed in their
neighbourhoods. The program is designed to be versatile so we can address
traffic problems anywhere in the City.”
“Speed Watch is a friendly reminder with a serious message: Slow down
and help reduce the number of serious traffic accidents,” said Greater
Sudbury Police Chief Ian Davidson. “Excessive speed has a negative
impact on the peace and safety of residential neighbourhoods. With winter
setting in it’s more important than ever for motorists to adjust their
driving habits and slow down.” |
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