The speed reader board study in Houston has failed to give results due to a technical glitch, says Carl Lutz, Ministry of Transportation district manager for the Bulkley-Stikine.
Lutz says the glitch occurred when they were downloading the data off the Houston speed reader board, and they were unable to recover any data from the sign prior to it’s January activation.
“We are disappointed, as the Ministry was hoping to get some local statistics on the effect of the new speed reader sign,” said Lutz.
But Lutz says other resources show that speed reader boards have proven consistently effective at getting drivers to slow down, reducing speeds by about 10 per cent – an effect that lasts for several kilometres down the road.
Lutz cites that speed reader boards are gaining popularity with municipalities as a traffic calming tool to slow and restrict traffic, primarily in residential neighbourhoods.
He adds that the ministry’s mandate is to improve traffic flow efficiency rather than restrict it, so tools such as the speed reader board are usually used only at the municipal level on provincial highways.
