Police identify Reeves Way-Ninth Line, Kennedy-Stouffville Road as problem intersections

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 20, 2019
Simon Martin

It’s no secret that residents of Whitchurch-Stouffville are concerned about traffic issues on Reeves Way. The problem has reached a point where York Regional Police have taken notice. Sgt. Maurice James told council on Sept. 10 that the Ninth Line-Reeves Way intersection was of interest for the police.

According to York police statistics from May 2018 to June 2019, there were six collisions at the intersection, with half of them caused by improper turns. As a response, James said the police focused on enforcement in the area. In total, they found 48 traffic violations, and “32 of them were committed by drivers who were residents in this very neighbourhood,” he said.

“I have been a dog with a bone with my concerns on Reeves Way,” Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban said. “You have responded to my ward and I really do appreciate it.”

The police statistics came as part of a report on traffic safety in Whitchurch-Stouffville. The annual numbers were stark. York police issued 3,792 provincial offences in the Whitchurch-Stouffville area, with 1,968 being speed related.

There were also 641 stop sign offences, 99 traffic control signal offences, 81 offences involving hand-held communication devices, 232 careless driving offences and 29 cases of stunt driving.

“Traffic safety is the No. 2 concern across the region,” James said.

“I can’t believe the disrespect on the roads,” Ward 5 Coun. Richard Bartley said. “Stop signs are just a suggestion.”

The statistics from the police also revealed that drivers are far more likely to get in an accident outside the town limits than within the town limits. York police noted there were 299 motor-vehicle collisions within the town limits from May 2018 to June 2019, while there were 642 motor-vehicle collisions outside the town limits during the same period.

Unsurprisingly, James said, 42 per cent of those accidents occurred between 6 and 9 a.m., and 4 and 7 p.m.

Another intersection of focus for police is Stouffville Road and Kennedy Road. James said there were 18 collisions at the intersection, leading to seven injuries. Fifty per cent of the accidents at the intersection were due to drivers following too closely.
According to James, the majority of collisions with moderate to severe personal injuries were the result of a traffic control signal offence.

That’s why he said police are advocating for more red-light cameras. “As we know, when the police are present, people behave themselves,” the officer said.

Other tools James mentioned that can help with traffic concerns are the York police road watch program and the possibility of photo radar in the future.

That idea was music to the ears of Ward 3 Coun. Hugo Kroon. “We need photo radar and we need red-light cameras,” he said.

James said the road watch program is very effective. For a first road watch complaint, a letter is sent to the owner of the motor vehicle in question detailing the incident. For the second complaint, a second letter is sent, along with a phone call. For the third complaint, an officer will attend the address of the vehicle owner. “It’s very effective when people see the police,” James said.

Earlier this year residents along Reeves Way spoke out about their traffic concerns. The constant speeding and accidents on the road had reached a boiling point for residents like Faraz Qureshi. “Everyday, people come speeding down the road trying to catch the green light (at Ninth Line)," he said.

Nikki Parmer runs a daycare on the road and said it's not safe. “People come off Ninth Line and come too fast. Nobody is driving 40 km/h” she said. “On Reeves Way all of the families have children.”