Residents still fuming over speeding on Fruitland Road

Residents say their concern about speeding along Fruitland Road continues to fall on deaf ears – including those of area councillor Maria Pearson.

“To date, there has not been one single change to address the issue of speeding, despite the efforts of our community,” said Teresa DiFalco, a long-time resident and president of the Fruitland Road Community Association for Safe and Healthy Communities. “Pearson’s recent comments (in a Stoney Creek News column Aug. 11) alleging that speeding is a perception in Ward 10, and that neighbours are the ones doing the speeding, sends the wrong message. At a time that our children are returning to school, she ought not to be dismissive about the serious issue of speeding.”
DiFalco said there is excessive speeding on Fruitland, often at highway speeds, and it has been a cause for concern since she moved to the area about 20 years ago.
This is a “very real” issue, she added

“There are instances of speeding vehicles that fail to stop for school buses. There have been far too many close calls of children being endangered by speeding vehicles,” said DiFalco, adding there are no crosswalks between Barton Street and Highway 8. “Our mailboxes are located on the other side of the road, which poses a risk trying to cross the street. Pulling in or out of one’s driveway is also a challenge and many times dangerous.”

Resident Cathy Thornton, who has lived on Fruitland Road for two years, said if you drive the speed limit some drivers get upset.
She favours putting all-way stops on Fruitland at Sandy Drive and Sherwood Park Road.
“This way traffic cannot use Fruitland as a throughway,” she said. “The police monitor the traffic when they can and do a great job; however, I feel they are a valuable resource that should not be wasted for this issue.”
Pearson said while she understands residents’ frustration, city traffic studies show most drivers travel near the speed limit.
“If I could have a cop on every street in my ward that’s what I’d need,” she said. “At least a half dozen times a week, I get a request for police for traffic issues – speeding, running stops, the whole works. I mean, it’s daily and it’s not just Fruitland Road, I get it all over.”

Pearson said she supports all-way stops on Fruitland Road, as long as residents are aware of the potential consequences.
“You start telling the truckers at 2 a.m., ‘You’re going to (have) to stop now,’ get ready for the jake brakes and the noise,” she said. “I’ve never supported it and I’ve told the residents, if you’re prepared to accept that, by all means.”

By Laura Lennie, News Staff