Thunder Bay's Keith Hobbs agrees with lowering residential speed limits

Thunder Bay's Mayor says proposed legislation to lower speed limits on residential streets is a good idea.

Ontario MPP and Community Safety Minister Yasir Naqvi is asking Queen's park to lower the default speed limit on residential roads from 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

Keith Hobbs told CBC News he gets a lot of complaints about speeding in residential areas.

“It's a pain every time we want to change a speed limit whether it be a community safety zone or whatever — we have to go to council,” he said.

“I think this will make it a lot easier if we have one speed limit throughout all residential areas.”

The province is also putting on the table a reduction in the speed limit in school zones to 30 km/h from 40.

Hobbs said he believes the move will result in fewer accidents.

"People just need to slow down, there's no need to hurry,” he said.

“Right now, when you see a 50 km/h zone, most people go 55, 60, even faster. And when they see 40, maybe they'll slow down to 45-50 max.  And if we get that then we'll have accomplished what we're after.”