Toronto's Speed Limit Signs Are So Large They Require New Poles | Carscoops

      In addition to installing larger signs, Ontario will also introduce more speed bumps and roundabouts.

      Currently, in Toronto, Ontario’s new speed signs are too big for the city's existing poles. The new signs are eight feet tall, necessitating the use of taller wooden poles.

      Premier Doug Ford has prohibited speed cameras, referring to them as a “cash grab.”

      Speed limits and political decisions don't usually grab attention, but they did last month when Premier Doug Ford banned speed cameras, labeling them as a financial trap and redirecting the funds to alternative traffic-calming measures. One such measure includes the introduction of oversized speed limit signs. However, there is a significant issue: these signs do not fit the current poles in Toronto.

      The 90 new temporary signs, intended for 20 school zones across Toronto, are three feet wide and can reach up to eight feet tall, making them nearly the height of the poles that are currently in place. In Ottawa, Canada, these large signs require 12-foot wooden poles for proper support.

      Last week, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow acknowledged that the signs are indeed too large and will necessitate the purchase of new poles, although the province has assured financial support for this.

      During recent media discussions, Ford expressed disbelief that Toronto authorities couldn’t manage to accommodate the new signs.

      “When I heard this, I couldn’t help but laugh,” he remarked. “So let’s clarify: all the other municipalities have no issues. Yet, it’s Toronto and Ottawa that can’t manage to erect a large sign? Do I need to demonstrate how to put up a big sign? I think it's just another excuse. If you don’t like the signs, install speed bumps. It’s absurd. I can’t believe it.”

      Ford is confident that the large speed limit signs, together with new speed bumps and flashing lights, will serve as more effective deterrents than speed cameras and fines.

      However, studies cited by the Toronto Star suggest that these large signs are unlikely to significantly reduce speeding and aggressive driving.

      

      Moreover, out of the 150 locations now prohibited from using speed cameras, only 21 have been classified as suitable for speed humps or cushions, and none can accommodate full speed bumps or roundabouts.