A pilot project will see a yellow line installed within two blocks of Highway 32, south of Dublin and west of Highway 180, to try to slow traffic in West Perth.
Operations Director Adam Ryan presented a report on vehicle speeds on rural roads at a meeting with West Perth legislators, with staff monitoring the data through most of 2025. He stated at the meeting that a pilot project to apply road markings could potentially reduce driver speeds on roads not designed for high-speed travel.
Ryan added: “While there’s not much evidence that it reduces vehicle speeds, some municipalities believe it can be effective.”
He added that the specific timeframe for the markings is still being determined as the City of West Perth is waiting for the contractor to tell them when they can complete the work.
The project began in September 2024, when staff were tasked with preparing a report describing the speeding problem. At the time, the municipality only had one radar sign, located on Highway 8 in the suburb of Milchester. Staff subsequently purchased a second radar sign and began installing it throughout the city, focusing on paved rural roads. These signs collect data and transmit the information to a dedicated website in West Perth, through which municipal officials and the Perth Police Department (OPP) can access detailed information and compile reports based on average speeds and optimal patrol times.
Ryan’s report states that during the 2025 season, utility workers will install mobile radar markers on lines 26, 29, 32, 36, 39 and 42, moving them in different directions every two weeks to collect accurate statistics.
The data is aggregated monthly, and the average speed per hour over a 24-hour period is calculated. In May and June of last year, the average speed on roads with an 80 km/h speed limit was 86 km/h and 87 km/h, respectively. Additionally, the detailed charts include an “85% speed” column, representing the speed at which 85% of vehicles travel. For example, in August of last year, 85% of vehicles traveled at 98 km/h or below, while the remaining 15% of drivers exceeded this speed limit.
In his report, Ryan notes that speeding is a problem faced by all municipalities. However, traffic calming measures have limitations on rural roads. In cities, solutions such as narrowing roads, speed bumps, and flexible barriers are common, but on rural roads, large agricultural equipment, livestock, ambulances, and municipal repair vehicles must pass without stopping.
The Ryan report states: “Implementing traffic calming measures creates safety risks for agricultural communities, delays emergency services, and complicates snow removal and road repairs. Therefore, we do not recommend implementing traffic calming measures in rural areas.”
It is recommended that road markings be used in rural areas as a traffic calming measure, in combination with portable speed radars, to collect data and subsequently evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot project through reporting.
In his report, Ryan notes that speeding on rural roads is fundamentally a driver behavior issue, so the most effective deterrent is consistent enforcement. The Ontario Provincial Police assured the municipality that officers will continue to monitor and deter speeding.
MP Nicholas Wink suggested West Perth councillors consult with agricultural road users after the pilot project began, saying feedback from neighbouring municipalities after resurfacing their rural roads showed drivers “own” that side of the road and do not feel the need to give way to agricultural machinery they encounter.
”There’s a balance to be found, but I’d be happy to hear feedback as the pilot develops,” he said.
City Council member Alex Foster asked whether radar signs had influenced these findings, as people adjust their driving behavior when they see them. Ryan responded that there is currently no data to support this.
He said, “The Ministry of Transport hasn’t fully supported the installation of radar speed limit signs from the outset, but they’re the only viable option for municipalities, especially on rural roads. Speed bumps or median islands shouldn’t be installed along Highway 32… This seems to be our best option at the moment.”
”I don’t think any one measure will work, but a combination of measures could be effective,” said Mayor Walter MacKenzie.
To further support the pilot project, staff have included the cost of additional radar markers in the 2026 operating budget.
Post time: Jun-12-2026