Remember always that speed kills!
EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter was sent to the Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, and has been reprinted here at the author’s request.
Dear Sir,
Re: Increases of Highway Speed Limits – Particularly Hwy 69
This is to raise my very serious concerns regarding the increases of the speed limits of several Ontario highways to 110 km/h – particularly sections of Hwy 69.
It is obvious that neither you or the engineers and technical staff of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation have a grasp, knowledge or principles of basic physics that of velocity and resistance – “inverse square law.” Simply stated the greater the velocity the ever-increasing resistance with a dramatic increase in the required energy to achieve and maintain a higher velocity (SPEED). Thus, the increase in speed will consume ever greater energy – FUEL – thus producing ever increasing carbon emissions. So much for controlling “greenhouse” gas emissions as the climate is ever warming at an alarming rate.
It is claimed, no doubt by the engineers and technical staff, that the highways in question are designed for higher speeds. A highly questionable concept that carries no logic. It ignores the consideration for the ability of vehicles to safely travel at such high speeds. Not every vehicle is properly maintained and all vehicles are subject to wear and tear and deterioration over time – tires especially. And always bear in mind the high number of vehicles recalled by the manufacturers for various faults and failures. Vehicle influences may include: maintenance, condition, make, type, tires, age/year, safety check records, ownership care, number of drivers and no doubt several more!
And there is the other factor of the ability of drivers – such as: age, experience, attitude training, emotional influence(s), culture, race, gender, health, fatigue and doubtless many more. including intoxication!
Weather: temperature, warming and thawing, freezing (black ice), mist, fog and even smoke, climate, snow and rain.
Highway condition: classification, number of lanes, divided highway, lighting: day or night – duck or dawn, paved/unpaved, type of construction – material, maintenance, city, provincial. rural or urban jurisdiction.
It is very obvious that the MTO engineers really have no idea or comprehension of safety and safe design – that includes basic physics. I wonder what school of engineering provided the training – was it fully accredited? Are the technical staff and engineers licensed? How up to date were the professors? And as far as you are concerned it is not necessarily expected that you have a technical training but surely you must have asked questions and been able to source various data and information and review the topics of highway construction and traffic safety.
Remember always that speed kills! In July 2024 alone there have been three serious crashes on Hwy 69! Of course we never see the reports or outcomes of such accidents and of course never an inquiry or ever an inquest after a fatality. Getting accurate current statistics is all but impossible – we mostly rely on press reports.
Finally! It is most irresponsible of you and the MTO to so blatantly promote some very bizarre justifications for increasing speeds on our highways. There is simply no justification. Who do we sue if we are an innocent victim of an incident (not accident!) involving the higher speeds that you promote?
Lionel Rudd. C.E.T.
safety specialist
