Friday July 10, 2020
Since the onset of Covid, road racing (motorcycle and vehicle) has been rampant in Ontario. Racers are travelling cross country for the thrill of the run and all of Caledon is their destination.
Tickets don’t matter, nor does the impounding of vehicles. You will have seen the posted speeds of these vehicles in OPP updates. While the OPP continue to fine and tow vehicles, other ground work must be established to lay a different foundation for our communities, one where racing is not acceptable, the speed limit is followed and there are more teeth in vehicle noise legislation.
A first step occurred on June 30, 2020, at the Town of Caledon Council Meeting. The Town approved the Traffic Calming Strategy with a few amendments. Never before has there been such a comprehensive policy developed by the Town on this issue. The Town has realized communities across Caledon are experiencing the same problem and something must be done. The geographic area covered by the West Caledon Traffic Group has been declared a Community Safety Zone. For anyone who is not familiar with this concept, community safety zones are specialized zones in communities where fines are doubled for infractions. Community safety zone designations must exist before photo-radar can be implemented. This means all of Caledon Village, Alton, Belfountain, Inglewood, Cheltenham and Terracotta are part of the safety zone. This area includes Forks of the Credit Road, Charleston Sideroad and Hwy 10.
By the end of September, traffic studies will have been conducted in each of these areas and final reports compiled with recommendations to the Town by 2021.
The West Caledon Traffic Group will be lobbying the Town for stronger noise and traffic bylaws specific to Forks of the Credit Road and lobbying the province for greater controls on speed and aggregate truck movement on Highway 10 and Charleston Side Road.
So much to do, enjoy the rain tomorrow.
BCO