New signs keep students safe

Alycia Douglass
New signs keep students safe
The new signs on McConnell and Second streets restrict right hand turns on red lights (Nick Seebruch/ TC Media).

CORNWALL, Ontario – The City of Cornwall recently installed new ‘no right turn on a red light’ signs for westbound traffic on Second Street East turning onto McConnell. The city’s transportation engineer, Enrique Kamm says the decision came following reports of drivers taking the corner at accelerated rates while students were using the intersection.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, drivers are required to wait until pedestrians and crossing guards have safely crossed before proceeding. However, with many motorists failing to acknowledge this rule, the city was forced to take precautionary measures.

“This was something brought to our attention by the crossing guard and the police were involved as well,” said Kamm. “The crossing guard found especially in the morning that people would ignore her attempts to cross the street and try to take that corner quickly.”

The current change will be in effect Monday through Friday between 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 2:00-3:00 p.m. during the months of Sept. through June, only impacting drivers throughout the school year.  

“The signs were installed for the morning at school start and an hour in the afternoon, which is the busiest time for the crossing guard,” said Kamm.

The city hopes to ensure the safety of students and crossing guards by imposing a $110 fine and two demerit points on drivers who disobey the sign.

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation encourages pedestrians to cross only at marked crosswalks or traffic lights, and wait until traffic has come to a complete stop. Motorists are urged to heed the signs and always look for pedestrians. 

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