Radar speed check signs are popping up on high-traffic streets in Sault Ste. Marie.
The city recently installed two of the signs on Easterday Ave. near the Johnston Street intersection.
While they are a reminder to "check your speed", that is not the main reason why were installed.
The radar speed signs provide the city with two primary tools.
"One being the data they collect to assist us in making decisions/changes. And the other is the immediate feedback a driver receives from the sign showing their speed being over the established limit. Drivers will naturally drive at the speed they feel safe which could be higher than the established speed limit. By introducing a flashing sign in the driver’s direct line of sight, they are more inclined to lower their speed to the speed limit," said City Manager Brian Chapman.
These cameras are not "photo-radar" systems that take a picture of speeding vehicles and send a citation in the mail to the owner of the registered vehicle.
It's mostly about data-collecting.
"The purpose of buying the radar signs is to assist staff in making data informed traffic related decisions. The signs can collect traffic data to better understand current trends such as number of vehicles and their speed. Often, City Staff will receive concerns regarding traffic flow or speeds on a particular stretch of road but without a way to collect the data, we can’t verify the concern as an issue, nor can we propose any changes to existing traffic control orders or warrants. The signs being installed on Easterday came from the concerns expressed by residents in the area regarding the speed at which traffic travelled on that stretch of road. It should be noted that on roads and streets that fall within a local jurisdiction’s authority to regulate non-MDOT roads, changes to speed limits need to be verified via data," Chapman explained.
There is a specific process in determining the safest speed limits for roads.
"Pursuant to State Law, local speed limits are set by assessing the 85th percentile speed. That is the speed to which 85% of drivers are currently driving at or below on a given section of roadway when a speed study is conducted. For example, if a speed study determined the 85th percentile was 38 mph on a given road, officials would have to set the speed limit at 40 mph. With a recent change to the law local officials can now choose to round up to 40 mph, or down to 35 mph. With the proper data and with certain mitigating factors, a speed limit could be set at the 50th percentile. The key to establishing speed limits on local roads is collecting data," Chapman continued.
Eight radar speed signs were purchased at a total cost of $26,634 and were funded out of the stock and equipment fund.
The four-way stop at the Easterday and Johnston intersection and the stop light at Easterday and Bingham were removed. Now, those two intersections only have two-way stop signs with traffic on Easterday free-flowing. Many question why the free-flow traffic from Ashmun to Portage with no stop signs or stop lights to slow traffic down in the residential area.
"Stop signs are not used to control speed on streets/roads. The primary purpose for stop signs is to assign the right-of-way to vehicles at intersections to reduce conflicts and crashes. Dozens of studies reveal that stop signs are largely ineffective in slowing down drivers or reducing traffic. In fact, the MMUTCD (MI Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices) clearly states that stop signs are not to be used for speed control. In many cases, speeds are higher between stop signs and once the signs are removed, average speeds may decrease. If you were to sit and observe several driver’s actions at a particular stop sign, you’ll notice that once a vehicle stops (or at least slows down) the driver will accelerate and continue down the street at whatever speed they select. Simply stated; The only area where stop signs slow down traffic is the area within about 150 feet of the stop sign, which does not benefit entire blocks or neighborhoods," Chapman said.
When Easterday was reconstructed, all traffic devices needed to meet the criteria and standards in the MI Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD).
"As Easterday is a city major street and a truck route, it is the controlling road, and all intersecting roads are secondary. Because of this, all traffic control devices (such as stop signs) that do not meet the warrants and criteria of the MMUTCD needed to be removed; so no stops on Easterday except at other major streets Ashmun St. and Portage Ave. There are many alternatives to slowing traffic but data is needed to make any changes. The speed signs are not permanent and are intended to be moved around the City as concerns are brought up to Staff. They will be utilized to collect traffic data for us to verify concerns and address any issues," concluded Chapman.
