Re-instate flashing lights during reduced speed hours
With the new speed enforcement cameras being installed, the lights warning when the reduced speed hours are active have been covered in black plastic.
As a former police officer, if I was to do this while conducting speed enforcement, this would constitute police trickery which would result in the case being tossed immediately.
Expecting someone to read a sign when entering a school zone only causes drivers to become distracted by trying to read the hours on the scene and not pay attention to pedestrians walking in the area.
Therefore I am requesting it to be mandatory that in areas with speed limits that change during specific hours, that a visual flashing light is also installed to provide motorists with a fair warning that they are entering a zone with a reduced speed. If this must be put into a by-law, then so be it.
Thank you for participating in the City of Barrie's Suggestion Forum.
The sign indicating how the speed limit can differ depending on the time of year, the day, and time of day—related to times when children are travelling to and from schools—temporarily replaces the flashing lights to warn of a 40 km/h zone, which must be covered when cameras are active. The Government of Ontario doesn't permit speed limits that vary and flashing lights to be posted at the same time. A static speed limit sign allows a provincial offences officer to be 100% confident that the accurate speed limit was posted to advise drivers of the maximum speed, which helps ensure that the ASE regulation under the Highway Traffic Act (Regulation 398/19 Sec 3.1.6) can be fully met and that tickets can be issued.
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M F commented
It's NOT AT ALL ABOUT SAFETY. Shame on the Provincial gov & Municipalities like Barrie boasting about the revenue made by speed cameras yet eliminating the real concern: SAFETY. Flashing lights SHOULD NOT BE COVERED for any reason. Hypocrisy trumps once again, taking us for fools $$
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Bounty Fisher commented
The issues are too numerous to list here, suffice it to say it's appaling to see them boast about issuing 9200 tickets in the media a few days ago, with the deceptive, and deviating manner in which they posted signs on Big Bay Point that don't abide to the Highway Traffic Act. All tickets should be cancelled, all money people paid refunded, until they address this properly. The city knows it, they've been contacted now several times, I've done my part to communicate to the appropriate oversights. This has nothing to do with safety, otherwise they'd realize how dangerous their manner of sign posting and deviating from "safety" really is to those community safety zones. Drive through the Community Safety Zone on Bloomington Rd in Stouffville, then you'll see how it's done right, not the money grabby trickery with which it was deployed in Barrie!
If anyone reading this wants to join a group I started where these issues are being discussed, visit: www.facebook.com/groups/speedcameratrap/
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James White commented
The text on the new signs is long and small, it is definitely more dangerous to try and read the sign and figure out what it's trying to tell you than it is helpful at slowing people down. Having the usual flashing lights when speed is reduced makes so much sense, I honestly can't believe they were covered. Makes it seem like these camera's are just a cash grab for the automated ticketing rather than actually making Barrie streets more safe. More deplorable behaviour from the city and their cronies (BPD)
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Chris Neilson commented
Agreed. The city cannot stand there and tell me that they are making the city 'safer' by putting these speed camera's in, while simultaneously covering up the the flashing lights and adding in signage that is difficult to read, with a long series of random times on it, that you need to comprehend, look away from the road to check the time and your speed, while driving through a school zone.
The people who thought this up, should be ashamed of themselves
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Nicholas Belisle commented
It is ridiculous to me that you can increase fines while simultaneously reducing signage. If safety is the priority, school zone hours should be MORE visible and not less.
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Josh Bergeron commented
I never understood why they would cover up working school zone lights in place of a sign. I agree with this suggestion wholeheartedly.
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Scott Tacy commented
This is so important.
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Joshua Vincent commented
why were the warning lights covered? that sounds like it makes the road more dangerous.