A pair of new speed signs have been installed on Territorial Drive. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Slowing down

New speed signs installed in North Battleford

Jun 10, 2021 | 11:13 AM

Motorists in North Battleford have new reminders to slow down.

The city has installed two speed signs on Territorial Drive where the speed limit is reduced from 80 km/h to 50 km/h. One is facing eastbound traffic approaching 95th Street, while the other faces westbound traffic approaching Clements Drive. Both signs display driver speeds and will flash a white light to alert motorists if they are exceeding the posted speed limit.

Roadways supervisor Colin Carriere said it’s important for residents to know that these signs are not radar traps. In the past City employees have noticed residents who thought these types of sgins were speed traps have damaged them.

“They have been installed to help drivers by warning them they have entered a 50 km/h zone,” Carriere said. “The signs do not issue speeding tickets.”

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Stewart Schafer, Director of City Operations, said these are two locations CSO officers identified as problem area’s.

“This is mainly because you’ve got children crossing Territorial Drive to go to school and younger children at that,” he said. “It’s not a 80 kilometre zone, it’s a 50 kilometre zone.”

Last week, a motorcycle rider was hospitalized following a collision with a car at the Clements Drive intersection. Sixteen accidents have occurred at that location between 2018 and 2019.

The installation is part of the SGI Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Grant Program, which the city applied for in the fall of 2020. Schafer said many motorists traveling into these reduced speed zones don’t realize when they are driving faster than the posted speed limited.

“Standard signs are ones that unfortunately people forget to see after time, they just drive by and don’t notice, ” he said. “But if you have a sign flashing at you saying you’re going to fast, then you look up and realize you’re going too fast.”

Schafer added that people have typical mindsets while going from one destination to another, not paying attention as they should be while driving, due to daily distractions.

“These new signs should improve pedestrian safety by reducing the speed of drivers as they approach crosswalk areas and ensure they are driving at a slower speed when required to come to a complete stop,” he said. “A city that is safe for pedestrians is healthy and socially well-connected.”

Three additional speed signs will be activated soon for Territorial Drive and Highway 4. These include Highway 4 northbound approaching the Territorial Drive/South Railway Avenue intersection, Highway 4 southbound approaching Territorial Drive/100th Street and Territorial Drive southbound approaching the Airport Road/8th Avenue intersection.

Schafer thanked the province for their financial assistance.

“Without their help, the purchase and installation of the signs for this year would not have happened,” he said.

The full release is available on the city’s website.

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cjnbnews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW