As part of its role and mandate to ensure that our residents and visitors can enjoy livable, sustainable, and accessible neighbourhoods, the City of Cambridge operates and supports a number of initiatives to promote road safety.
The City has a series of tools to create more liveable neighbourhoods by mitigating the impacts of traffic and speeding.
Through the Speed Management Program residents can request temporary speed awareness features, assessments for physical traffic calming, or launch their own neighbourhood improvement project.
For information on locations where the Speed Management has been implemented, see the Speed Management Dashboard.
We're committed to creating safer streets for all residents. The Neighbourhood Area Speed Limit Project is a key initiative in achieving this goal, reducing speeds, and improving safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Starting in spring 2024, we are working to lower speeds on select City streets.
Why are Speed Limits Changing?
Speeding is a major contributing factor in traffic collisions. The Neighbourhood Area Speed Limit Project is based on the following facts:
Speed is a factor in roughly one-third of all fatal collisions [Ontario Traffic Council].
Lower speeds lead to less severe injuries in collisions.
World Health Organization data shows a significant increase in survival rates at lower speeds:
90% chance of survival at 30 km/h or lower
15% chance of survival at 50 km/h
Slower speeds give drivers more time to react and avoid collisions.
Reducing residential speeds make our streets calmer, quieter, and safer for people walking, biking, driving and enjoying their neighbourhood. This creates a more comfortable environment for active modes of transportation, builds community trust and creates livable neighbourhoods.
Project Completion and Changes:
The Neighbourhood Area Speed Limit Pilot Project commenced in summer 2021.
An Evaluation Report was distributed to Council and city-wide implementation of reduced neighbourhood areas was approved in spring 2023.
An Implementation Plan for city-wide roll out was reviewed and approved by Council in May 2024.
All designated neighbourhood area speed limits will now be 40 km/h, as posted.
School zones within these neighbourhoods (with the exception of Regional Roads) will have a reduced speed limit of 30 km/h
New signage will be installed at neighbourhood entrances and exits to indicate the new speed limits.
Click the interactive map below to view Neighbourhood Areas and their proposed installation dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why 40 km/h?
The City has road safety in mind as we work to encourage safe and healthy neighbourhoods. Statistics show that slowing down gives motorists more time to react to the unexpected. This helps prevent crashes and reduces the severity of injury when a collision does happen.
What are Neighbourhood Area Speed Limits?
Neighbourhood area speed limits establish a reduced speed of 40 km/h for entire neighbourhoods, instead of setting limits on a street-by-street basis.
What about school zones?
School zone speed limits in residential areas will be reduced to 30 km/h.
This applies to all schools (elementary and high schools) within neighbourhoods.
Speed limits for schools on major roads/Regional roads remain unchanged at this time.
How will reduced speeds ensure safety?
Safety is the priority. Speed limits are an important aspect of traffic safety because speed is a factor in the frequency and outcome of every collision. Slowing down while driving gives everyone more time to react to the unexpected and helps avoid collisions.
The risk of fatality for people struck by a vehicle while walking increases dramatically as driver speed increases.
How will signage make a difference in compliance?
While road design typically has the largest impact on speed, signage can help remind drivers of the speed limit and is a quick win in the short term. Signage is one of the many tools we use to encourage safer speeds.
Will there be an increase in enforcement?
Tickets issued within these areas may carry higher fines due to the lower speed limit, but the volume of enforcement will remain largely consistent. Locations of concern may have heightened enforcement through the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. Residents can use the Waterloo Regional Police’s online reporting form (WRPS - Online Reporting) to request enforcement for any location.
Speed awareness
These programs are temporary by-request installations rotated through the city on a weekly or bi-weekly basis Spring-Fall.
Radar speed boards
Radar Speed Boards, sometimes referred to as Driver Feedback Signs or Radar Message Boards, display real time speeds of oncoming vehicles.
The Radar Speed Board Program is an educational tool intended to promote safe and responsible driving throughout our neighbourhoods. The program educates motorists on the speeds at which they are driving, as well as educating residents about the real speed of vehicles traveling through their neighbourhood.
The program is based on the principal that many motorists are somewhat unaware that they are travelling at an excessive rate of speed, since most motorists generally drive at a speed deemed comfortable, depending on road geometry and roadside development. The operating speed electronically displayed on the Board is a strong visual reminder to the motorist to comply with the posted speed limit.
The Radar Speed Boards have been well-received as a community education tool to raise awareness of motorist travel speed through neighbourhoods. Boards are rotated through the city on a weekly basis.
Where's Tommy?
"Where’s Tommy & Friends?" is an interactive speed management initiative reminding drivers to slow down in residential neighbourhoods.
The "Where’s Tommy?" program aims to make drivers more aware of their surroundings, especially in school zones, at corners and pedestrian areas.
How does it work?
Residents can send an online request for Tommy or one of his friends to visit their street for a couple weeks;
If multiple requests come in, a waiting list will be formed;
Tommy & Friends will be rotated between streets for two weeks at a time and updated on an interactive map
Where is the crew this week?
Traffic calming
The City of Cambridge receives numerous complaints or concerns from residents every year regarding speeding, traffic volumes and/or cut through traffic in residential areas. The Transportation & Engineering Services division responds by investigating the need for traffic calming measures to restore the street back to its intended function in the neighbourhood.
While aggressive drivers could travel on any street, not all streets warrant traffic calming. Traffic calming is used when most drivers are travelling faster than expected or there is a significant amount of non-local traffic indicating that the road, not the driver, is not functioning as intended. The City has adopted a Traffic Calming Policy to identify and prioritize streets for intervention.
Many residents request interventions that are not traffic calming devices such as: traffic signals, all-way stops, or reduced speed limits. Using the wrong tools to address a traffic issue not only doesn't solve the problem, but may create additional safety issues. Examples of traffic calming devices include: on-street parking, speed cushions, curb extensions and raised intersections and crosswalks.
Often times after a traffic investigation is completed, the complaints or concerns do not represent the behaviour of the majority of road users and therefore do not qualify for traffic calming interventions. In these cases residents may apply for projects to slow down or beautify their streets through the Keep Calm: Resident-led Neighbourhood Improvements program.
Seasonal on-road traffic calming signs
A type of “soft calming”, Seasonal Traffic Calming signs are a tool that can be used to control speeds, increase awareness of school and trail crossings or delineate lanes. As the name suggests the signs are seasonal and are only used between May and October. Outside of this time period the signs are removed as they impede winter maintenance operations and are likely to be damaged.
Examples include:
Speed reduction - Used in a series or in conjunction with physical traffic calming the signs are used to narrow the lane widths, altering driver behavior. The narrowed lanes make most drivers less comfortable speeding without negatively impacting emergency services and transit.
Pedestrian crossings - The seasonal traffic calming signs are also used to increase visibility and awareness of school or trail crossings. A sign placed near the centre of the crossing is more visible to the driver and increases awareness of the crossing.
Lane separation - The flexible bollards are commonly used to delineate bike lanes, multi-use trails or along the centreline of the road to delineate two-way traffic and prohibit passing.
Looking for ways to make drivers slow down in your neighbourhood or add beauty to your streetscape? The Keep Calm program can help you do just that through tactical urbanism.
Examples from other cities below:
Keep Calm is a resident-led neighbourhood improvements program that encourages neighbours to get together and implement creative projects to slow down or beautify their neighbourhood streets. The program has three main objectives:
To slow traffic by bringing attention to the pedestrian environment;
To foster community and identity within neighbourhoods; and
To enhance the overall look and feel of neighbourhood streets.
The Region of Waterloo is initiating a School Zone ASE program, the first location for Cambridge is the St. Gabriel School Zone on Guelph Avenue in Hespeler.
Road Closure and Construction Zone Safety
Every day the City of Cambridge maintains roadways in order to ensure all drivers and road users can travel easily, accessibly and safely. In order to maintain the roads with high standards, city crews set up thousands of construction zones for the purpose of repairing and paving roads, utility work, capital projects and rehabilitation.
Road safety guidelines
Use signs
Road crews are out daily making repairs in order to ensure everyone is safe. Help them stay safe by always staying alert and paying attention to the signs. Signs contain essential information about traffic conditions, road closures and detours ahead.
Learn more about construction and road signage in Ontario
Slow down
Drive at the posted reduced speed limit.
Be patient
Road closures are not here to personally inconvenience you, they are important to improving the roads we drive on each day. You may not be saving time but you are saving lives.
Defensive driving
Remember to leave appropriate time and spacing between you and the car in front in order to give yourself enough time to break, as sudden stops can be expected in construction zones. Also, be cautious of trucks turning or backing up.
Expect delays and plan ahead
Plan for delays by leaving early enough so that you can reach your destination on time. You can also consider alternate routes. You can also plan ahead by finding traffic updates on your favourite navigation app or listening to local radio for traffic updates.
Comply with directions given construction crews directing traffic
Stay alert and be prepared to obey the flagger’s directions. In a construction zone, the flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign
Apps to help plan your route
Google Maps
Apple Maps
Truck Routes
A heavy truck is defined as a commercial vehicle having a weight of 4.6 tonnes or more unloaded. Heavy trucks are prohibited on all roads unless signed otherwise and/or making a delivery via the shortest possible route from a truck route. Parking is prohibited for heavy trucks on any residential street
Safe Roads Waterloo Region
The Region of Waterloo’s Safe Roads initiative provides education and awareness for all users with tips for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists navigating different scenarios, particularly conventional and roundabout intersections.
Pedestrian Crossovers
Drivers, including cyclists, must stop and yield the whole roadway at:
Pedestrian crossovers
where these rectangular black and white pedestrian signs are present pedestrians have the right of way, drivers are legally required to stop for the entire duration of the crossing
School crossings with guard
Crossing guards control the whole crosswalk, drivers may not cross the crosswalk when the crossing guard has a stop sign on display even if their lane is open. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way unless a crossing guard is not present and displaying a stop sign.
Drivers and cyclists who do not yield may be fined $150 to $500 and face three demerit points. Crossovers are identified by specific signs, road markings and lights.
where these rectangular black and white pedestrian signs are present pedestrians have the right of way, drivers are legally required to stop for the entire duration of the crossing
Crossing guards control the whole crosswalk, drivers may not cross the crosswalk when the crossing guard has a stop sign on display even if their lane is open. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way unless a crossing guard is not present and displaying a stop sign.