DOES THE PROVINCE CARE ABOUT ROAD SAFETY?

Town of Mono
Sunday September 11, 2022 - For Immediate Release

The Town of Mono, population of nearly 10,000, located north of Toronto within Dufferin County is fighting for measures to crackdown on speeding and reckless driving.

John Creelman, Mayor of Mono and a former regional senior justice of the peace, has fought for increased speeding fines and penalties together with implementation of Automated Speed Enforcement since his election to Mono Council in 2018.

The Provincial Government is not listening.

A recent detailed letter and invitation to Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney to personally witness reckless driving in Mono was completely rebuffed.

“I’ve spoken with Minister Mulroney twice and written several letters calling for increased fines, penalties and other measures to counter speeding but to no avail,” Mayor Creelman explained.

Much of the speeding and aggressive driving in Mono is done by non- residents just passing through Mono without regard for others and local conditions.

“Airport Road, for example, has become a dangerous raceway with some vehicles travelling 30 to 80 km or more over the 80 km speed limit. There is excessive speeding and reckless passing despite hilly terrain and many hidden driveway entrances,” Mayor Creelman noted.

“Real deterrents just aren’t there,” according to the Mayor. Basic speeding fines have not increased for over a quarter of a century and cameras capable of catching aggressive speeders can’t be used on roads with an 80 km speed limit due to Provincial rules.

“Our hands are tied and the Province continues to ignore us and other rural municipalities in Ontario. Our OPP detachment works hard”, Mayor Creelman said, adding that Mono has enhanced the police budget for traffic enforcement for 20 years but it’s not enough.” Mayor Creelman noted that 282 speeding charges were laid throughout Dufferin County over the recent long weekend.

“We can’t keep up with this epidemic of speeding and dangerous driving when the Provincial Government refuses to give us, along with the OPP, the tools to address the problem,” Mayor Creelman stated.

To make matters worse, many traffic charges are at the risk of going nowhere.

“The Provincial Offence Courts are in disarray with matters taking two to three times longer to find their way to resolution or trial. Serious charges such as stunt driving are already being plead out with lesser consequence and could be dismissed altogether due a court backlog the Province is doing nothing about,” Mayor Creelman said.

The Mayor concluded that all of this is a disservice to the justice system, law enforcement and to municipalities who depend on fine revenue to fund policing.

In answer to the question of whether the Province cares about road safety, Mayor Creelman answered “No, but I’m hoping to be proven wrong.”

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