Councillor Ron Mamchuk is elated at the installation of a new speed display sign on St. Adolphe’s Main Street. The hope, he says, is that it will finally encourage commuters to slow down as they drive through town.
The new sign is located at the southern end of Main Street and monitors traffic as it enters the community. Commuters will see their current rate of speed as well as warnings to slow down when their speed exceeds 50 kilometres per hour.
“It might not resolve the speeding issue completely, but it’s a good start,” Mamchuk says. “The RCMP are aware that we are going to put this sign up… Of course, it would be nice to have the RCMP presence here to look after the speeders, but the RCMP have their own staffing issues right now.”
Mamchuk refers to recently announced concerns over a staffing crisis of RCMP officers across the nation. The situation is anticipated to get worse before it gets better. It is not expected that the number of new recruits over the next two years will be sufficient to fill even retirement vacancies.1
The new speed display sign, Mamchuk says, is a long time coming. Two signs had been purchased by the RM quite some time ago but their use was delayed while waiting for approval from the province, since Main Street is under their jurisdiction.
Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure has advised council that the sign should be moved every three months or so to keep drivers from becoming too accustomed to it. Four separate locations in and around Main Street have been preapproved by the province.
“We’ve got to slow down for [everyone’s] safety,” Mamchuk says.
