A handful of Wallaceburg residents are concerned after some ‘Children At Play’ signs were removed in the community.
Meanwhile, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent explains why they won’t be replaced.
Concerned citizens
Tashia Houle, who lives on Wills Street in Wallaceburg, told the Sydenham Current she is concerned for the safety of her four-year-old son Travis, along with the other neighbourhood kids when they are outside playing.
“There are people that come flying down this street, and it is not a very long street,” Houle said about the short section of roadway, which has no exit at the end and connects with Murray Street.
“They whiz around that corner and by the time they (go passed my house) they are easily doing 40 km/h. My kids out here playing, I’m yelling at them to slow down and I’m getting shot the finger. People, you’re in my neighbourhood and you’re speeding around and my kid is playing outside… you need to respect that there is a neighbourhood here.”
Since a ‘Children At Play’ sign was removed earlier this summer from her street, Houle has taken matters into her own hands, by installing a homemade sign in her front yard with the words: ‘Slow Down Children At Play.’
“People that (drive) down this street, I’ve got to worry about them, especially because I live closer to the corner,” she said, adding that she hopes her sign reminds drivers down her street to be more cautious.
Despite being told by the Municipality that the signs are not going to be replaced, Doug Belanger, who also lives on Wills Street, told the Sydenham Current he still hopes to see new signs installed.
“I’m hoping to get them replaced and not just ours,” he said.
“This is just one street. Roy Street has got the same problem. Edwy, Canary, Chestnut… it’s not just here.”
Belanger said he has no problem spending some of his own money to have a new sign erected.
“If we have to raise the money in our neighbourhood, than that’s what we’ll do,” he said.
“It should be the responsibility of the Municipality to have this, there is no reason for the signs to have been taken down. If they are that bad, replace them.”
Belanger added he believes once the 4-way stop is removed on Murray Street, more problems will be caused.
“That is just going to be a major headache,” he said.
“I can see people coming down this road at zipping speeds. Somebody is going to get hurt, big time.”
Municipal decision to remove signs
Mark Ceppi, an engineering technologist with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, said Chatham-Kent council approved a policy to no longer install ‘children at play’, or ‘disabled, blind, deaf, (etc.) child’ warning signs on Chatham-Kent roadways back in 2005.
“When this policy was passed in 2005, Chatham-Kent council directed staff to leave the existing signs up. We have been finding through the Sign Reflectivity Testing program that these signs have been failing to meet the minimum standards for sign sheeting retro-reflectivity,” Ceppi said.
“Therefore Public Works and Engineering and Transportation staff agreed that the signs have outlived their regular lifecycle and they need to be removed.”
Ceppi said Public Works staff began the removal process throughout Chatham-Kent at the end of June.
A 2005 staff report provided details about the Municipality’s rationale for not supporting the policy, including:
– The signage does not accurately identify the specific area or offer any additional relevant information to the driver.
– The signage gives the driver a false sense of security in that the driver frequently assumes that the parents and or community also recognize the issue and will similarly be on guard, and visa versa.
– It has been documented that the impact and effectiveness of such warning signs is quite short-lived and they often become ‘part of the scenery’ for drivers familiar with the route.
– Many municipalities and communities do not use such warning signs due to the lack of proven effectiveness and undesirable liability associated with the use of such non-uniform warning signs.
– The implementation and erection of such signage becomes an administrative issue where budget must be allocated and staff must administer and monitor such a program to ensure that all signs are accurately placed and maintained.
– The usage of such signage in today’s society inadvertently identifies and singles-out one or more particular individuals within the community.
“Child Warning Signs provide no guidance to motorists in terms of safe speed or operation of their vehicles,” the 2005 staff report states.
“All drivers are charged with the paramount duty of conducting their vehicles in a safe manner in accordance with the relevant legislation at all times. As such, they are required to continually be in control of their vehicle and be aware of their surroundings at all times. All drivers are required to operate their vehicles in a responsible manner on all streets, not just those with Child Warning Signs present and interact with other vehicles and pedestrians in a knowledgeable and safe manner.”
Ceppi said as per the policy, the Municipality will no longer be installing these signs on Chatham-Kent roadways.
“Therefore, the signs on Wills Street or any other location will not be replaced,” he said.
“The Ontario Traffic Manual provides for Playground’ warning signs to be installed at designated playgrounds. These signs are not affected by the policy and will therefore continue to be maintained.”
Ceppi added the Municipality does not anticipate any changes to traffic volumes on Wills Street with the removal of the 4-way stop on Murray Street and Reaume Avenue.
“Without a second outlet to accommodate thru traffic, all of the traffic will continue to be generated by the Wills Street residences,” Ceppi said.
Councillor appreciates concern
Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley told the Sydenham Current he appreciates the resident’s initiative and concern.
“It is great that these residents feel that strongly about the safety of children to do this,” Wesley said.
“I think every driver, no matter what street you are on, needs to be extra careful and watch for children as they are on every street and in every area of Wallaceburg.”
Wesley added: “There could be a sign on every street realistically.”
Poll question
What do you think?
Should ‘Children At Play’ and similar signs be resurrected and re-installed in the community?
Please vote in our poll below and let us know:
[polldaddy poll=”9820770″]
I would think that if we put those signs up on one road we may as well have to them put up on every road. There isn’t a road in Wallaceburg where there aren’t children playing so it would be senseless to put up signs everywhere, I think people just need to keep a close eye on their kids and teach them about road safety. It doesn’t matter how fast someone is driving or how slow-it’s not going to keep any children from playing on the road or running out. They just need to have adult supervision! If the same people are speeding up and down your road get a plate number and call the police.