Everyone in Estevan knows there is a speeding problem on Wellock Road.
The local police have talked about it for years. Residents have complained about the speeds, particularly around the Pleasantdale Softball Diamonds.
But new technology that the Estevan Police Service has at their disposal paints a picture of the extent of the problem.
The police deployed their new Speed Spy device last month, and found that a whopping 62 per cent of motorists were speeding in the playground zone on Wellock Road. The average vehicle speed was 42 kilometres per hour, which is 12 kilometres above the speed limit, and the top speed recorded was 83 kilometres an hour.
If you’re not operating an emergency vehicle, or if you’re not heading to an emergency, then it’s unacceptable to be driving 83 kilometres per hour in a residential area. The situation is even worse considering it’s in a playground zone.
The city’s traffic control committee is now urging city council to install speed bumps to control speeds through the playground zone on Wellock Road. And while speed bumps are far from an ideal option, council might not have any choice but to go along with the recommendation.
Wellock Road is a haven for the lead foots. Its asphalt remains in relatively good shape. It’s wide for a residential road, and it can serve as a bypass for motorists looking to travel from Highway 47 North to Highway 39 West, without having to drive through the central area of the city.
The extension of Wellock Road from Irvine Crescent to Sister Roddy Road a couple years ago was a much-needed project due to the residential developments taking place in the area, but it also cemented Wellock’s status as a shortcut for motorists.
Still, it’s unacceptable when motorists believe they can travel as fast as they want through a residential area, particularly one with a playground zone.
As for the speed bumps, they’ll slow down motorists in the areas where they are located, but motorists will return to their normal speed in between the bumps. Is it worth installing them to briefly slow down motorists a few times?
Other options have been exhausted. Police have patrolled the area, but they have other jurisdictions to worry about, too, and other neighbourhoods where speed is also an issue. Photo radar isn’t an option, and the status quo isn’t working.
People will complain about the bumps, but they also have to realize something has to be done when so many people are driving in such a dangerous fashion.
Wellock Road isn’t the only troublesome area in the city. Arterial roads and quiet residential streets also have problems with motorists who feel entitled to drive too fast for the conditions.
It’s great to drive fast. But sometimes a little less speed can make our community a lot safer.
