PICTOU – New digital speed signs have county council questioning where and when they should be placed along rural roads.
The county recently purchased two digital speed signs for about $4,500 each and one of them has already been in place in Lyons Brook. The signs flash the speed of oncoming traffic so motorists are aware if they are speeding.
County staff said a sign was placed in Lyons Brook for a few weeks as a test so that staff could make sure it was working properly. It has a list of other suggested locations but it needs to wait until frost is out of the ground so poles that hold the signs can be put in place.
Deputy Warden Wayne Murray said residents in his district, which includes Lyons Brook, were pleased with the results of the sign. He said motorists were slowing down and braking when their speed appeared on the screen, making the roadway safer.
Both Coun. Randy Palmer and Coun. Debi Wadden said they believe the signs should be put back up in the spring when the risk of them getting damage by snowplows is past.
“If we have speeders this time of year, something is wrong,” said Palmer. “When we have snow they shouldn’t be up.”
