Simcoe County staff are recommending that portions of County Road 9 with a posted speed limit of 80 km/hr be maintained, with the exception that the portion from Concession 10 South to the western limits of Dunedin be reduced to 70 km/hr.
The county’s committee of the whole approved the recommendation this month as a result of a council resolution received from Clearview Township requesting that the County of Simcoe reduce the speed limits from 80 km/hr to 60 km/hr from County Road 124 (Maple Valley) to County Road 42 (Cashtown Corners).
The motion was tabled by Thom Paterson last October authorizing the mayor and deputy mayor to seek county council’s support for speed reductions in response to public concerns about safety on the roadway.
“The annual average daily traffic varies from approximately 850 vehicles per day on the westerly section between County Road 124 and Concession 8, to 2,100 vehicles per day between Concession 8 and Fairgrounds Road and 3,600 vehicles per day between Fairgrounds Road and County Road 42/Airport Road,” reported transportation and engineering staff.
“Given the length of the requested speed reduction area (15 km) the study area was broken down into six separate sections for analysis. Vehicle speed survey data was collected for all six study areas from June 13-17, 2022.”
Staff said, “In establishing speed limits, it is important that the posted speed limit meets with driver expectations. Studies have shown that the majority of drivers tend to drive in a safe and reasonable fashion given their surroundings. The studies also show that speed limits should be set to reflect a speed the majority of drivers consider to be safe and reasonable under favourable conditions. The 85th percentile speed (the speed at which 85 per cent of drivers travel at or below) is a good reflection of that maximum speed and a good indicator of what the posted speed should be.”
Average speeds in all sections were recorded between 66 and 87 km/hr, and 85th percentile speeds were recorded between 79 and 100 km/hr.
The 85th percentile speed of 79 km/ hr would suggest that the 80 km/hr speed limit is supported for the section between Concession 10 south to the western limit of Dunedin, “however given the topography and degree of horizontal and vertical curves a reduction of the speed limit to 70 km/hr is warranted.”
The highest speeds were recorded in the section from 9/10 Sideroad to Riverside Drive. As a result, county staff will continue to monitor the speeds in the area through the use of radar and traffic counters to confirm operating speeds. Staff will also request increased OPP enforcement in the area.
Impairment a factor in collision
A 20-year-old man from Singhampton was injured in a single vehicle collision on County Road 9 on Sept. 24, east of Dunedin.
The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was transported to hospital after his vehicle hit a dirt embankment at 4:27 p.m. The driver was transported to hospital.
As a result of the investigation, the driver was charged with Impaired driving and excess Blood Alcohol, and was given a court date of Oct. 18.