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Erin takes novel approach to get drivers to slow down

This project was launched in response to community members' concerns over speeding

ERIN – The Town of Erin wants you to think of the children and watch your speed when driving in the town. 

Around all parts of the town, drivers may notice cutouts of young children holding signs asking drivers to slow down for their safety. These are the Road Safety Friends, a Town of Erin initiative that was relaunched on June 3. 

Jessica Spina, communications officer, said this was launched late last summer in response to the community expressing concern over speeding drivers throughout the town. 

“We initiated at the end of last summer just as we were preparing for schools to re-open and for kids to be back on the sidewalks and crossing the street,” Spina said. 

While no data was collected last summer, Spina said the feedback from residents was overwhelmingly positive. 

The children on the signs even have names, Aiden and Emma. Spina explained the idea of using children in the signs is to remind drivers of the human cost to speeding. 

“They see young kids and they can sort of tie it back to a niece, a nephew, their own children or brother and sister,” Spina said. “It helps to really resonate with those that may be speeding that hopefully see our sign and start following our speed limits.“

Erin resident Lindsay Pizarro had called for a sign to be placed on Main Street near Pine Street over concerns about her young children playing in their yard near the busy road. She is worried about cars speeding down Main Street and turning down Pine Street too fast.

“We’re hoping that cars will at least turn in here slower because you can see it’s a 40 here but people go a lot faster,” Pizarro said. 

So far, Pizarro hasn’t noticed anybody slowing down but is hopeful a few people may reconsider their speed.

“I think there needs to be measures like this that are permanent, maybe a speed sign as well,” Pizarro said.

Both signs get redeployed to a new location each Monday because the concerns about speeding have been widespread throughout the town. 

Residents can request the signs at a specific spot in the town by emailing [email protected]. Spina said they have already had numerous requests since re-launching. 

Spina also encourages people to use the hashtag #SlowDownErin when posting about the road safety friends to make this initiative more widespread and known throughout the community.


Keegan Kozolanka

About the Author: Keegan Kozolanka

Keegan Kozolanka is a general assignment reporter for EloraFergusToday, covering Wellington County. Keegan has been working with Village Media for more than two years and helped launch EloraFergusToday in 2021.
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