Wilmot neighbours launch ‘Speed Limit Lottery’ to reward safe drivers

By Lee Griffi

Tired of high-speed traffic passing by their front yards, residents on Witmer Road are taking a positive, fun approach to road safety by rewarding drivers who actually follow the speed limit.

The roadway is a busy rural residential corridor with school buses stopping daily, hidden driveways, rolling hills, blind crests and frequent use by cyclists and joggers. The concern from residents comes from the influx of heavy industrial gravel trucks, which has drastically changed road safety, thanks to the opening last August of the Hallman Pit. It is located at 1894-1922 Witmer Rd., south of Bleams Road and less than one kilometre south of Shingletown.

“Despite a strong police presence, the posted 50 km/hr residential speed limit is rarely respected,” said resident Samantha Lernout. “Rather than relying solely on speed traps and tickets, neighbours have joined forces to test the power of positive reinforcement.”

Local residents will periodically sit along Witmer Road with a radar gun to track oncoming traffic. If a vehicle is clocked going the posted speed limit (or no more than 5 km/hr over), the driver will be flagged for a reward. Safe drivers will receive a flyer or follow-up invite to enter their name into a community draw for a $250 cash prize.

To make the process simple and secure, volunteers will record license plates of law-abiding vehicles and leave a friendly "You’ve Been Caught Driving Safe!" card in the driver's mailbox (for locals) or provide a simple QR code where drivers can confirm their plate and enter the monthly draw.

"We love our community and want everyone to get home safely," said Lernout. "Punitive tickets only work when a cruiser is parked on the shoulder. We're hoping a little positive motivation creates lasting driving habits and makes our road safer for our kids, cyclists and neighbours."

She added residents hope the community-led initiative inspires drivers to slow down, enjoy the scenic drive and maybe even pocket some extra cash for keeping Witmer Road safe. Lernout said her kids get on a bus every morning, so she knows all about the issue first-hand.

“I am noticing there are some regular truck drivers, and if they are going at a good speed and I give them a good wave, they tend to do it again next time. The ones not paying attention, maybe their head is in the phone, maybe going way over the speed limit and not noticing, those ones I don’t really expect us to change.”

Lernout said no one wants the truckers to dislike residents, and her hope is to have them drive appropriately because they want to.

“Because they see it as something to keep us safe and because they have some form of a relationship with us. I thought it might be better to go at it with an angle like this.”

Just like on many other rural roads in the area, the amount of non-truck traffic has also greatly increased in recent years, something not lost on residents, but the trucks remain the number one concern.

“We used to call the operator at the gravel pit and let them know the trucks were driving really fast and noticing they were coming sooner than the opening time. He would let us know he would deal with it, and he was very cooperative, but it wasn’t solving the problem.”

The speed limit in the area of hidden driveways is posted at 50 km/hr but rises to 70 km/hr on the rest of the road. Lernout said a request has been made to increase the limit to 80 km/hr. Township staff are currently reviewing the speed limit on Witmer Road to determine whether an increase is warranted. A report will be brought to council sometime in the new year.

Lernout said she consulted with the Waterloo Regional Police Service on this initiative, and they have given their blessing for the contest. The $250 prize will be awarded bi-monthly.