If Estevan’s city council and the community accepts the recommendations coming from Estevan’s Police Service (EPS) and traffic committee, the city will have two recognized speed limits within the city’s boundaries.
Partially in response to last week’s editorial in the Mercury, Police Chief Paul Ladouceur said there is consistency in the current speed limits and zones throughout the city and a proposed 20 km/h speed limit for a one or two block area on Eleventh Avenue is being pulled, since the police service has located some nearby off-street parking for their vehicles which will alleviate pressure on parking spaces in the area near the police station.
“We don’t have a lot of speed limit variances in the city. In fact, we have two, a 30 km/h limit near schools and playgrounds and a 50 km/h, pretty well everywhere else,” said Ladouceur.
The recommendation that found its way to the council chambers, is one that suggests the 30 km/h speed limit could be imposed within a two-block stretch on Fourth Street in the central business district, the 1100 and 1200 blocks.
The police chief pointed out that if motorists checked their speeds in that area of the city, most would discover they were only going 30 to 40 km/h anyway and with car doors being opened and with increased pedestrian movement, it just seemed to be a pragmatic move, as well as a safety issue.
“As far as the 70 and 80 km/h limits are concerned, those are zones outside the city’s jurisdiction. Those speed limits are set by the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure,” said the chief. He added that EPS and the city have made a request with that ministry to reduce the 80 km/h speed limit to 50 km/h a little further back than it is currently on Highway 47 north.
“Having an 80 km/h speed limit coming into the new subdivision in the north, that now has a play park, as well as houses and condos, is not the best situation. We’re making the case to have them allow a speed reduction a bit earlier, a bit further back as you approach the city,” Ladouceur said.
As for the critics who are questioning the speed reduction in the downtown sector, Ladouceur said, “hey, it’s two blocks out of your life and we’re interested in traffic safety. It’s consistent. But we know that whatever we do, there will be some citizens who are for it and those who will be against it. This isn’t about popularity, it’s about safety and we have heard from business owners downtown who prefer to have it at 30.”
The police chief added that it kind of scared him that people would have to ask the question as to when to slow down or stop.
“And as for the accusation that this is a cash grab, the simple response is, don’t get a ticket.” Ladouceur then added that the money flow from tickets goes into the provincial coffers and then only a percentage flows back to help fund police enforcement positions.
Ladouceur said the speed limit signs are already posted, or will be posted in highly visible areas in each restricted zone and the police service will probably put the electronic speed recording sign up in areas where the speed limits might be changing.
“So, we are not out to nab people, we want motorists to slow down when necessary,” Ladouceur said. “And as I said
earlier, we have two speed limits in the city, 30 and 50. It’s a public safety move, not a popularity contest and we are using evidence-based information and are seeking public feedback as one component of the recommendation.”
As far as motorists from out of town are concerned, Ladouceur said with the speed limits and zones clearly marked, he feels confident that visiting drivers will have no problems being aware of Estevan’s speed limits.
“We all know that when you’re not familiar with a community, you tend to be extra alert when you’re driving through it, or around in it, because you don’t always know, so you’re looking for that speed limit sign, just like you’re looking for one-way street signs or traffic lights.”
In conclusion, Ladouceur said EPS members have issued a few tickets to semi-trailer truckers who continued to use Sixth Street as a truck bypass route. The official truck bypass around the city was opened in mid-November of last year, so he said the grace period has ended. He also noted there is a crack down on trucks using Jake (engine) brakes on Perkins Avenue, especially on the decline, where it intersects with Highway 47 south. He said their use is prohibited, because they are noisy and not good for road maintenance.
