Motion calls for review of traffic safety on Highway 19

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg council endorsed a motion brought forward by Coun. Kelly Spencer is calling for an analysis of traffic volumes, collision data, and road safety measures on Highway 19 between Tillsonburg and the 401.

The motion also asked for consideration of possible engineering, operational and enforcement measures, such as intersection improvements, turning lanes, speed management measures, and others.

Highway 19 is a provincial highway, and it crosses through South-West Oxford Township from Tillsonburg town limits to the 401.

“This motion is not about assigning blame, or is it assuming the solution; it’s just asking the province for information needed to make informed solutions,” Spencer said after reading the motion.

She added the highway is the primary gateway to Tillsonburg, and many residents have shared concerns over the years. A friend of Spencer’s was in a serious collision on Highway 19 several years ago and was not seriously injured.

“Every collision is more than a statistic; it affects our families, our first responders and our community as a whole,” she said.

Spencer emphasized she is not saying the highway is unsafe, but it just asking for an examination of the data. She has already spoken with the MPP’s office about it, and the motion sought the county council’s support.

Coun. Chris Parker said he was supportive of the motion and pointed out that the town requested information on incidents at the intersection of Highway 19 and Quarter Town Line.

“I just don’t see them getting back to us in the time frame,” he said.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy said she was supportive of the motion but noted a recent report that speeding is the number one cause of collisions. She suggested including a request for enforcement in the motion.

Parker said he saw in a recent report that speeding tickets were down by 700 from 2024 to 2025.

“That’s a scary thing to read when we see the number of incidents we have and the number of complaints we receive within our area,” he said.

Spencer countered that speeding is a separate issue.