Sunderland speeders forced to slow down as community-wide 40 km/h limits in place

With aggressive driving cited as an area of concern in a region-wide road safety initiative, speeders in the hamlet of Sunderland in Brock Township better get used to slowing down after speed limits in the community were dropped to 40 km/h.

With speed a contributing factor in one-third of fatal collisions in Canada, Durham Region launched the Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions. Speed limits are not guidelines, the report declared. “They are laws.”

Aggressive driving, including speeding, was identified as one of eight emphasis areas in the Vision Zero plan.

In support of Durham Vision Zero, Durham Region and Brock Township will be installing an area wide 40 km/h posted speed limit in Sunderland, with the slow down zone in place on River Street (Regional Road 10), from Sunderland Meadows Drive on the west to Highway 7/12. Local roads in Sunderland will also be changed to an area wide 40 km/h speed limit, unless otherwise posted.

The speed limit reduction signs were installed last week.

All Regional roads posted as 40 km/h throughout Durham Region will be co-designated as community safety zones and permit the use of automated speed enforcement, a program that captures images of vehicles exceeding the posted limit. The pictures are stored and reviewed by a Provincial Offences Act Officer and, if warranted, a notice of the offence and fine will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle within 30 days, with no demerit points issued.