By Thomas Smith

Anyone who drives in Haliburton County has experienced people who drive too fast.

You can hear it every day through Haliburton, as wheels rip down the main drag only to be stopped by the red light at the high school.

Residents of Halbiem Crescent sit at a unique position with Haliburton.

With connections to Fleming College’s campus, several people drive through the crescent to park and walk to the college, hikers walk through to connect to the trail systems, walking groups travel through the subdivision, and it is visited by high schoolers as part of the annual Terry Fox Walk.

All valid reasons to request a reduced speed limit.

That is what Kim Stamp, member of the Haliburton by the Lake Owners’ Association wanted to change. Visiting Dysart council held on Tuesday, Aug. 25, Stamp requested Dysart council to designate the Halbiem Crescent a Community Safety Zone.

“Our current speed limit of 50km per hour, is way too fast for the safety of everyone using our roads system,” said Stamp.

A community safety zone would restrict the speed to 30km per hour and any speeding fines would be doubled within the area.

“This designation advises drivers that they are within a zone where public safety is of special concern,” said Stamp.

She told council members that this past school year, there was an incident where someone did not slow down despite a school bus having its flashing arm out. Two children were put in danger but were luckily uninjured.

She says that over time, the demographic of the Haliburton by the Lake neighborhood has increased to have many young families with kids who ride their bike to school and play around the neighborhood.

“We feel that this is a very serious safety concern for all residents of Haliburton County,” said Stamp. “Not just our neighborhood.”

“My opinion is we should grant you that speed limit in your area there,” said Dysart Mayor Walt McKechnie. “It just makes sense.”

Dysart Councillor Nancy Wood-Roberts expressed the desire to implement slower speed limits in denser housing areas in Dysart.

Rob Camelon, director of public works, expressed concerns that if a Community Safety Zone is designated, there would be an influx of similar requests.

“If people are travelling 60 (km per hour) in there, maybe it is a bigger issue than a Community Safety Zone and lowering the speed,” said Camelon. “We won’t know that until we have data.”

He suggested that a reduced speed bylaw should be drafted and presented to council in the future.

“We also have no sidewalks,” said Stamp.

During the winter and ice conditions, she says that people walk on the sand. Without sidewalks and lack of street lighting, the speed poses a safety concern during the winter.

“Ideally, we’d like to see more than one speed sign,” said Stamp. “I think if we can get the speed limit reduced, that would greatly help with our concern.”

Camelon says that after the speed limit is reduced, a study should be conducted to see what speeds are being reached in the neighborhood. If needed, a Community Safety Zone can be established.

“If they don’t pay attention to the sign that says 50, they probably won’t pay attention to the sign that says 30 is my concern,” said Camelon.

A speed tracker will be implemented in the area to collect data and direct council at a future date.