Drivers entering Okotoks will soon be met with new signs outlining local speed limits in town.
New signs will be installed at all road entrances to town stating local speed limits are 40 kilometres per hour unless otherwise indicated.
Okotoks Municipal Enforcement Manager Kelly Stienwand believes the new signs will be clearer and improve compliance on the roads.
“We’ve found that some of the signs we’ve seen in the past look like a speed sign in and of itself,” said Stienwand. “It can be confusing to the motorist.”
He said the move was also necessary after Okotoks extended its borders last year.
“As the community continues to expand we think it’s a better strategy to post it at all entrances to the community so it doesn’t matter where you are, you should be aware the speed limit is 40 km/h unless you see it posted otherwise,” said Stienwand.
The old signs were erected when council voted in October 2015 to change the speed limits on many side and residential roads from 50 km/h to 40.
“The data definitely shows that an accident at 40 km/h versus 50 km/h has a significantly different outcome,” said Stienwand.
Coun. Ray Watrin said it was felt the 50 km/h was too high.
“Fifty going through some of the neighborhoods is just too fast, with cars parked on the road and kids living in the neighbourhood,” he said.
While there was some initial pushback, Watrin says for the most part the public has embraced the change.
