Council wants more signage along rural roads

Concerns about excessive speeding on rural Pictou County roads have Council asking for more signage.

District 3 Coun. Darla MacKeil put a motion forward during Monday’s Council Meeting that called for the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal to post speed limit signs on roads that are currently unmarked as well as change its policy on electronic signs so they can be used in more places throughout the County.

Currently, under the province’s Use of Speed Signs Policy,  the electronic signs that post a driver’s speed can only be placed in rural communities where speed limit transitions occur to remind drivers of their speed, collect driver’s speed and keep communities safe.

Coun. MacKeil said the signs have proven to be a good deterrent for speeding and she would like to have them more readily available for all communities.

“I receive a large number of calls about speeding on roads and people are worried about the safety of the drivers and themselves,” she said. “In District 3, residents are scared, and people are afraid to walk on the side of the roads. “

Council agreed the signs are effective in monitoring and reducing speeds along roadways, but some said more of a police presence would also be helpful.  However, considering it is a problem in many districts, it would be impossible for RCMP to be everywhere.

District 2 Coun. Debi Wadden said she has had some success in her area by encouraging residents to report excessive speeding when they see it so RCMP is aware of the problem.

District 10 Coun.  Randy Palmer agreed the speed signs are effective but said it when they are removed to another location, driver’s return to their old habits.

“At the end of the day it all comes down to enforcement,” he said.

Council agreed to send a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal as well as local MLAs in hopes of having more signage placed along rural roads.