Road Safety

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.

If you would like to inquire about Speed Management email transportation@cambridge.ca.

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, 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 & 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.

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 to repair and pave roads, complete utility work, and maintain boulevards.

Road safety guidelines

Follow instructions on signs
Road crews are out daily making repairs 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
We all have somewhere to be, but road and lane closures are important to improving the roads we drive on each day. Pay attention to signage and use an alternate route if possible.

Defensive driving
Remember to leave appropriate time and spacing between you and the car in front of you 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 so you can reach your destination on time. You can also plan ahead by finding traffic updates on your favourite navigation app or listening to local radio for traffic updates.

Consider alternate routes until construction is finished. 

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.

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.