Anyone who has passed by Chesterville on County Road 43 recently, or entered or exited the village via County Road 7 to the south, has undoubtedly noticed the new warning system designed to help avoid collisions. The system uses sensors to detect vehicle traffic, activating warning systems for opposing traffic at the intersection. The warning system consists of flashing yellow lights around an intersection road sign for County Road 43 users, and flashing red lights around the stop signs on County Road 7.
Doesn’t it just seem like we’re tugging on the bandaid at a mind-numbingly slow speed at this point, rather than just ripping it off? This notoriously dangerous Chesterville intersection needs a roundabout. Cars don’t smash into other cars at roundabouts. Or rather, if they do, it happens at 30km/h in one direction of travel, rather than an 80 km/h T-bone impact.
It’s counterproductive to complain about anything designed to improve safety – even if it comes at a cost of $30,000 for United Counties taxpayers like this new warning system – but does this system really increase safety? The flashing LED lights around the road signs are only activated when traffic is approaching. It’s the first system of its kind installed in Eastern Ontario. Is that meant to make us feel like Chesterville is lucky to be the test dummy? Because it sure feels that way.
This makes me think of a pre-warning system for the Via Rail crossing on Highway 138 in North Stormont. Before the actual railway crossing with the traditional lights and gates, there is a sign with flashing yellow lights that pre-warns drivers that they should prepare to stop. A similar system is installed for a new lower visibility traffic light system installed on County Road 22 in North Grenville. My concern – what happens when a malfunction wipes out these “pre-warning” systems? Are drivers being conditioned not to worry and to get lax with their attention when the pre-warning systems are not active?
Applying this same logic to the Chesterville intersection, it seems that when the lights for County Road 43 users are not flashing, drivers are being told not to worry, as there are no cars waiting at the stop sign. Even worse, when no County Road 43 traffic is approaching, the stop signs for County Road 7 users don’t light up, as though suggesting that stopping is optional when there is no cross traffic. Once drivers are conditioned to this warning system, it creates a dangerous situation should the system ever fail. Combined with the ridges in the road that are sure to rattle the transmission out of any unsuspecting car, the number of odd safety additions at this intersection – which still sees frequent and serious collisions – is frustrating.
Yes, roundabouts are expensive, but they work. They keep traffic moving, and there is no equipment that can fail. Collisions are infrequent, and minor if they do occur. It’s time for Counties Council to rip off the bandaid on this issue. No more experimenting with new electronic toys. It’s time to squeeze a Chesterville roundabout into a near-future budget.
