Brant Safe Streets is an initiative which engages the community to create safer roads for everyone! We want you to get home safely and we need your help. We are all responsible for safe driving habits such as staying focused, obeying the speed limit, giving space to other vehicles and acting as roadway role models. Together, we can calm traffic.
New - Kids at Play Signs 
If you would like a "Slow Down Kids at Play" sign for your yard please connect with your local ward Councillor - please visit www.brant.ca/MeetCouncil for contact information.
Understanding the Current Situation |
Understanding the current situation as it relates to speeding and unsafe driving behaviours, at a national and local level, is an important step to create safer streets. A National ReviewA national survey from the 2016 Road Safety in Canada Report noted the following: “A national survey… indicated that while 47% of respondents agreed that speeding was a main cause of traffic collisions, 70% admitted to exceeding the speed limit sometimes, particularly on highways (81%). This suggests that there is a disconnect between how people perceive the risk of speeding behaviour and how they actually drive.” In the County of BrantThe County of Brant and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) collect speed data using radar devices known as Speed Spies. These can be unobtrusively deployed on any roadway and records the speed of each vehicle that passes the device. A broad review of Speed Spy data suggests that on most County roads, the 85th percentile of drivers drive within 5 km of the posted speed limit. Exceptions include portions of a number of primary or arterial roads including Grand River Street North, County Road 18, Highway 24, Colborne Street West, Paris Road, and Colborne Street East. According to the OPP, the top four (4) causes of collisions in the County of Brant in 2018 were:
It is interesting to note that 1.7% of collisions were caused by excessive speed while the remainder of collisions were caused by a variety of other factors. The Perception of SpeedingThere is a set of conditions within the County, and more broadly in society, which explains why citizens likely perceive speeding is becoming a prominent concern including:
Previous Strategies Used for Speed ControlThere are a number of speed control strategies which have been used and have consistently proven to be ineffective. They include:
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Brant Safe Streets Strategy |
Based on current research, the Brant Safe Streets strategy is designed to achieve four (4) objectives:
The Brant Safe Streets strategy is comprised of four (4) initiatives which are designed to meet the objectives. 1) Deployment of Mobile Brant Safe Streets ‘Systems’Three (3) Brant Safe Street ‘systems’ would be deployed to create local awareness, interest, and information on road safety and speeding. Each ‘system’ would include:
The mobile “Brant Safe Streets” system would be ideal for any road where residents, members of Council, County of Brant staff or OPP officers feel that road safety is an issue. The system would be deployed for 2 to 4 weeks. Through research, it has been noted that this would:
2. Installation of Permanent Passive Safety Measures in Targeted AreasThis initiative is ideal to address speed control and road safety issues in areas that have been persistently problematic and warrant permanent measures. Examples of problematic areas include village cores and secondary collector streets where there is heavier traffic, a larger number of fronting residences, and greater pedestrian and cyclist activities. The components will vary based on the individual area but can include:
Deployment of this initiative into an area would be informed by the first initiative by analyzing the hard data and more general feedback gathered. Through research, it has been noted that this initiative:
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Summary |
The four (4) initiatives are aimed at reducing speed on County roads and creating a safer road system for all residents. These initiatives are based on current research and best practices. While some initiatives can be implemented immediately, others will be implemented in the coming years. Residents are encouraged to be active participants in this solution. We encourage you to take part in the Pace Car program and contact us about problematic roads in the County. Being aware of your own driving habits is also critical to creating safe streets. Together, we can make the roads a safe place for all drivers (new and experienced), motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. |
View the Brant Safe Streets Report (PDF)
View the Brant Safe Streets Media Release
Join the Pace Car Program!
The Pace Car program is a locally delivered, nation-wide program that focuses on raising awareness around speed reduction in the community, especially in school zones and pedestrian-dense areas. The Pace Car program involves seeking out community members to sign up as Pace Car drivers. To join the Pace Car Program, please complete the electronic Pace Car Supporters Pledge form. If you prefer a hard copy Pace Car Supporters Pledge form, please print, sign and mail/deliver to Jake Cerson, County of Brant, 15 Curtis Ave. N. Paris, ON, N3L 3W1. Once the pledge form is received, we will mail you an official Pace Car emblem that you can proudly display on your car window.
Many Pace Cars work to calm traffic throughout a neighbourhood - the more people who participate, the better it works!
What is the Pace Car Pledge? |
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Do you want to calm traffic on a specific road?
Request a Mobile Brant Safe Streets System for a specific road! Please complete the Mobile Brant Safe Streets System Request form. A hardcopy of the form is also available. The Roads Division will deploy a system for 2 to 4 weeks including portable electronic messaging signs, portable electronic speed radar and display signs, and portable non-electronic message boards with Brant Safe Streets messaging. Speed-spy devices prior to, during, and following the system deployment will gather helpful data.
Also, we will mail brochures to all residents within the surrounding area outlining the goals of the system and provide information on safe driving behaviours.
The Mobile Brant Safe Streets System will begin deployment in mid-October 2019. The systems will move around the County and target areas of concern, as requested by local citizens.
Report back!
After a Mobile Brant Safe Streets System has been deployed to a problem area, let us know if you thought it was effective. Please complete the Mobile Brant Safe Streets Feedback form. Your feedback is valuable and will influence how we implement future traffic calming measures.
Help us spread the word!
Can you hang a poster or distribute brochures and/or rack cards to a community group? If yes, please complete the Request Brant Safe Streets Materials form and we will package materials for your distribution. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@BrantCommunity) and share our Brant Street Safe social media messaging.
Materials include:
- Poster
- Rack Card - Safety Tips
- Rack Card - Pace Car
- Rack Card - Request a Mobile Brant Safe Streets System
- Tri-fold Brochure
- Social Media Video
Safe Driving Tips
Every motorist is responsible for safe driving and to help calm traffic. Below are a few safe driving tips:
- Focus on the road and avoid distractions
- Watch for animals, particularly at dawn and dusk. Go slow and scan the road for movement
- Obey the speed limit
- Leave extra room ahead of you in case the vehicle in front suddenly stops
- Yield to the right of way
- Always check your blind spots
- Drive sober
- Be alert
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