Rubber speed bumps installed as part of left-turn calming pilot program

The City of Toronto is launching a pilot program to try and reduce the risk of left-turn collisions at intersections.

The Left-Turn Calming Pilot is part of the city’s Vision Zero campaign aimed at eliminating traffic-related injuries and fatalities.

Under the program, rubber speed bumps will be installed at eight intersections throughout the city. The bumps will “harden” the centerline and encourage drivers to approach the crosswalk at a sharper angle instead of cutting across intersections diagonally.

The city says left-turn collisions at signalized intersections account for 18 per cent of all fatal collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists and eight per cent of serious injuries.

The eight locations selected were based on collision history, collision severity, and findings of past safety reviews. They include:

• Eglinton Avenue East and Brimley Road (Scarborough Centre/Scarborough Southwest);
• Finch Avenue East and Sandhurst Circle, east intersection (Scarborough North);
• Sheppard Avenue East and Kennedy Road (Scarborough-Agincourt);
• Victoria Park Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East (Scarborough-Agincourt/Don Valley North);
• Victoria Park Avenue and Lawrence Avenue East (Scarborough Centre/Don Valley East);
• Lawrence Avenue East and Curlew Drive (Don Valley East);
• Don Mills Road and Steeles Ave East (Don Valley North);
• Mount Pleasant Road and Merton Street (Don Valley West/Toronto-St. Paul’s)

The rubber speed bumps have already been installed at two locations – Finch Avenue East and Sandhurst Circle and Sheppard Avenue East and Kennedy Road – while the rest are expected to be installed by the end of August.

The city will then review the results of the pilot program over the next year.