After deadly crashes, Vaughan reduces speed to 30 km/h on all public laneways effective Dec. 15

City cites ‘evidence’ to bolster new policy in hopes of ‘reducing the risk of severe injury or even death’

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 29, 2021
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Against the backdrop of deadly traffic collisions, Vaughan is moving ahead with a policy that it will reduce speed limits from 50 kilometres per hour to 30 km/h on all public laneways.

Implementation has begun and the city anticipates new signage will be up in all public laneways by Dec. 15.

“Evidence suggests that lowering speed limits, especially in residential areas, can be effective in reducing the risk of severe injury or even death due to a motor vehicle collision,” the city said in an Oct. 27 news release.

This change is part of the city's new speed policy, approved by council in June, that is reducing speed limits on residential streets, school zones and more.

“The policy is exclusive to municipal roads and focuses on four areas within Vaughan’s road network: rural roadways, built-up/urban areas (including school zones), public laneways and select neighbourhoods,” the release said.

Other roadways impacted by the new speed policy will see speed limits lowered from 50 km/h to 40 km/h in select neighbourhoods and school zones.

This change comes on the heels of several recent deadly crashes.

On May 16, two young children died when they were struck in their own driveway. Then, in a Sept. 1 crash, a 10-year-old girl died after she was hit.