Roads and Sidewalks

Stop signs control right-of-way at intersections to help traffic flow safely. They are not meant to reduce speeding. The decision to install a stop sign is based on:

• Visibility at the intersection

• Road type and surrounding land use

• Collision history

• Traffic volume

Adding stop signs where they are not warranted often causes more harm than good. Studies show that:

• Drivers may not stop – Many motorists roll through or ignore stop signs when they don’t perceive a need to stop, especially on major roads. This creates a false sense of safety for pedestrians who assume vehicles will stop.

• They don’t reduce speeding – Drivers may slow down at the stop sign, but often speed up afterward to “make up time.” Overall speed patterns remain the same or even worsen due to frustration.

Stop signs should not be installed:

• To protect pedestrians (other tools are more effective)

• To control speed

• To reduce through traffic in residential areas

• Where visibility is limited by hills or curves and stopping distance is less than 100 m

• On steep grades

• Within 250 m of another traffic control device (e.g., another stop sign or traffic light)

Speed limits aim to balance safety and consistency. Traffic engineers base limits on several key principles:

• Most drivers choose speeds that feel safe and reasonable

• Laws should reflect typical, responsible driver behaviour

• Voluntary compliance from the majority improves safety and enforcement

• Setting speed limits based on real-world driving patterns is more effective than arbitrary reductions

Not necessarily. Lowering the limit doesn’t automatically change driver behaviour. In fact, setting speed limits too low can:

• Decrease compliance

• Mislead pedestrians or new drivers about actual traffic speeds

• Reduce safety due to varying vehicle speeds

Speeding becomes more dangerous when traffic is moving at different speeds. Setting the speed limit near the 85th percentile speed (what 85% of drivers naturally choose) keeps traffic flowing consistently, which helps reduce collisions.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) enforce speed limits, but they cover a large area and can’t be everywhere at once. They focus on realistic speed laws that make it easier to identify and address unsafe drivers.

Posting a speed limit too low doesn’t solve the problem—it leads to widespread non-compliance and isn’t enforceable without constant police presence.