Traffic Calming

What is traffic calming?

Traffic calming is the "combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behaviour and improve conditions for non-motorized street users.”

Traffic calming measures can effectively address issues related to vehicle speed, excessive traffic volume and overall neighbourhood safety. Traffic calming measures - combined with engineering, education and enforcement - can significantly improve the liveability and safety of neighbourhoods.

Common traffic calming measures include speed humps, traffic circles, curb extensions, curb radius reductions and raised median islands.

Request traffic calming

In March 2023, Milton Town Council approved an updated Traffic Calming Policy that allows staff to evaluate requests received from the public.

Residents can submit requests for implementing physical traffic calming (e.g. speed humps) on local and collector Town roads. Traffic calming applications are accepted from January 1 to September 30 each year, for implementation the following year. Requests are made using this online traffic calming application form.
Apply For Traffic Calming

Traffic calming measures

Traffic calming measures include:

• Roundabouts
• Speed display boards
• Flashing 40 signs

Drivers

• Slow down
• Look and plan ahead
• Pedestrians go first – when entering or exiting a roundabout, stop for pedestrians at the crosswalk
• Look to the left, yield to all traffic in the roundabout, find a safe gap and then go.
• Don't pass vehicles in a roundabout
• Signal your exit 

Pedestrians

• Step to the curb
• Look and listen for a safe gap in traffic
• Keep and make eye contact with drivers in all lanes
• Only cross at designated pedestrian crossovers at the roundabout
• Wait on the splitter island
• Start to cross as soon as the vehicles have stopped

Cyclists 

• Ride as if you were driving a car
• Merge into the centre of the vehicle lane before the bike lane or shoulder ends
• Use road cycling hand signals to alert drivers to your route
• Stay in the middle of the lane to avoid collisions with other vehicles exiting to the right
• Less experienced cyclists should get off their bicycles and cross the roundabout as pedestrians, or use the bicycle bypass ramps where available

Roundabout benefits

Safety

Slows vehicles, lower speeds, with less chance of the potential for serious crashes and injury.

Improve traffic flow

Continues the flow of traffic in a safer manner by less time yielding than waiting for a green light at an intersection or for a gap in traffic at a stop sign.