An average of 91.5 per cent of vehicles travelling on the main road through South Porcupine are speeding, according to Timmins Police data.
From June 8 to June 15, Timmins Police set up its mobile radar unit on Harold Avenue (Highway 101), which they say was part of a larger traffic study.
In the past, there have been targeted enforcement initiatives in the area. When officers are redirected to other areas, police said the forms of aggressive driving return.
"In addition to other remedies being considered by officials with the City of Timmins, enhanced and targeted enforcement efforts will be undertaken and will continue to be undertaken as a public safety initiative," reads the Timmins Police news release.
Out of 15,70 vehicles that were successfully captured by the unit, 14,392 were driving faster than the posted speed limit. Police said one driver was registered at 127 km/h.
"Given the overall residential setting, this is clearly an exceptionally dangerous form of driving that also skews the data to a certain degree," said police.
"The trend is disappointing and must be addressed in order to enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists using this roadway."
According to police, the area is also problematic for tailgating and other forms of aggressive driving.
"All forms of aggressive driving adversely affect our personal sense of safety. Timmins Police officers are consistently alert to unsafe driving behaviours while on patrol. These efforts are heightened during Canada Road Safety Week but the attitude of local drivers must be addressed in order for it to change for the better," said Sgt. Thomas Chypyha in the news release.
South Porcupine Coun. Mickey Auger recently talked about trying to slow down traffic on Harold Avenue.
In the last little while, Auger said he's been getting calls from people on Harold who say the vehicles are going too fast.
Auger suggested dropping the speed limit on Highway 101 East to 70 km/h at the Tisdale Transfer Station then to 50 km/h at the first house in Finntown, which what the residential area on the north side of Highway 101 west of the OPP station is referred as.
Right now, the speed limit is 80 km/h until just after the Bruce Y when it drops to 70 km/h. Just past that it drops again to 50 km/h.
This is not the first time the speed limit on Highway 101 East has been up for discussion.
Last year, it was a topic at the Timmins Police Services Board table.
At that time, members talked about starting the 70 km/h zone earlier and doubling speed fines. Those items were not acted on, however, police did an enforcement blitz in the area.
