Please be advised of an upcoming change to the stop signs at Mountbatten Ave and Blossom Drive.
These stop signs were installed prior to amalgamation and are not compliant with the Ontario Traffic Manual [OTM] and the Highway Traffic Act [HTA] regulations. In accordance with OTM and the associated HTA regulations stop signs are not to be installed “At intersections that are not roundabouts having fewer than three, or more than four, approaches”.
In order to avoid potential liability and to conform to the Ontario regulations the stop signs will have to be removed. The removal is scheduled to occur on 11 September 2024. In accordance with the OTM stipulated procedures temporary warning signs will be in place for 15 days before and after the removal.
While there is often a perception that stop signs act to reduce or mitigate traffic speeds this is unfortunately not the case. Improper use of the signs results in multiple issues including excessive/aggressive acceleration and deceleration as well as speeding in the area as drivers attempt to makeup perceived lost time. Non-compliance with the signs is also a significant issue as drivers, especially those who regularly travel through such a location, do not perceive a need for the control and therefore do not obey them, reducing safety for all rod users including pedestrians. In consideration of the above, in conjunction with the removal, installation of Temporary Traffic Calming measures along the roadway is currently being undertaken so as to help delineate the curve and assist with mitigating concerns about vehicle speeds in the area.