Mayor Drew Dilkens calls lower speed limit 'ludicrous'

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens has laughed off a provincial push to lower the default speed limit from 50 km/h in residential areas.

The province is looking into reducing the default speed limit, where there are no signs posted, from 50 km/h on residential streets.

• Lower residential speed limit considered by Ontario government

The idea would be to bring it down to 40 km/h across the province or give municipalities the power to choose - either by lowering it to 40 km/h or the separate option to set their own lower limits, as long as it’s posted.

"I'm surprised, but it will never happen. That's ludicrous," Dilkens said, before laughing.

Community Safety Minister Yasir Naqvi said the province will consult with the public and municipalities about the potential changes.

"It makes a big difference, we live in denser communities, cars are getting faster, our population numbers are much higher now,” Naqvi said.

One resident in south Windsor says the change might not work in getting drivers to slow down.

Alfred Caza lives on Bartlet Drive, where, back in 2012, the city added speed bumps and lowered the speed limit on the street from 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

The changes came after residents complained of cars speeding around the Roseland Golf and Curling Club.

Caza says not everyone follows the new limit.

"Not everybody drives 40. So, you know you might have people doing 50 or 60. Most people slow down, which is a good thing," Caza said.

Lauren Dobson, 15, is from south Windsor, too, and plans on getting her licence next year. She supports the idea of a lower default speed limit.

"I think they should [be lower] because, normally, there's kids playing around on these streets and in the driveways and stuff. Say their bike goes out onto the street and cars coming down here like 60 or 80 km/h, they could get definitely hurt."