Traffic & Safety

Everyone has a role in keeping our roads safe. The Town is responsible for maintaining traffic signals, pedestrian signals, and pedestrian crossovers to ensure traffic flows smoothly and safely. 

The Transportation Master Plan outlines plans to create a multi-modal transportation network in Midland to help keep residents moving.

Traffic Calming

The Town of Midland is responsible for ensuring roadways serve the needs of all users. Traffic calming is intended to improve the quality of life for residents on traffic calmed streets, achieve slower speeds for motor vehicles, and increase the safety for non-motorized users of the street. The Town uses traffic calming measures to reduce dangerous driving and allow residents to enjoy their neighbourhoods, including:

  • On-street parking
  • Speed cushions 
  • Raised intersections
  • Textured crosswalks

Midland's Traffic Calming Policy provide guidelines, procedures and criteria for the initiation, investigation and implementation of traffic calming measures within residential neighbourhoods to address safety concerns related to speeding and excessive volume in a fair and efficient manner. Residents can submit a Traffic Calming Request, as outlined in the policy. 

Community Safety Zones

Community Safety Zones are designated sections of roadway where public safety is of special concern. These zones are intended to increase driver awareness, encourage safer driving behaviour, and support the protection of vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, children, and older adults. 

Community Safety Zones may be established in areas where additional attention to road safety is warranted. Under provincial legislation, these locations may include:

  • School areas
  • Child care centres
  • Playgrounds
  • Parks
  • Hospitals
  • Senior residences
  • Other locations where public safety is of particular concern within the community

The Traffic By-law includes a list of Community Safety Zones. While many Community Safety Zones are located near schools, they can also be established in other areas where pedestrian activity, roadway conditions, or community safety concerns justify additional measures. Town Council has the authority to designate any area that they see fit a Community Safety Zone by way of by-law.

Traffic-related offences committed within a Community Safety Zone are subject to increased fines. Many set fines are doubled for offences such as speeding and traffic signal violations. Enforcement in Midland is carried out by the OPP.

Pedestrian Crossings

Pedestrian crossings provide safety for those crossing the road. They lessen the severity and frequency of collisions. Drivers are required by law to stop for pedestrians crossing.

  • A crosswalk is found at an intersection with traffic signals, pedestrian signals or stop signs.
  • A pedestrian crossover is a crossing that can have specific signs, pavement markings or lights.

Visit Ontario.ca for examples of crossings, school crossings, and safety tips. The Traffic By-law includes a list of pedestrian crossing locations.

  • If there is a push button for lights, press it to turn on the flashing lights before crossing,
  • Make it clear that you want to cross the road, make eye contact with drivers and cyclists so they see you,
  • Make sure drivers and cyclists have enough time to stop, and have fully stopped, before you start to cross

  • Watch for pedestrians waiting to cross the road and make eye contact.
  • Stop for pedestrians at the yield line of white triangles.
  • Allow pedestrians to clear the entire roadway before proceeding to drive through (note that intersections with, crossing guards require motorists and cyclists to wait until all pedestrians and the crossing guard have cleared the entire roadway before driving through).
  • Do not pass other vehicles within 30 meters of the crossover.
  • Cyclists who wish to use the crossover to cross the roadway must dismount and walk their bike.

Traffic Monitoring & Reports

When driving around Midland, you may see our Traffic Monitoring Trailer and pole-mounted signs. The Town of Midland Engineering Department monitors traffic speeds on the town roads to:

  • compile traffic speed and volume numbers
  • raise speed awareness
  • help support traffic calming

The Traffic Monitoring Trailer and signs are stationed at known hot spots and in school zones. The data from the trailer and signs are used to help generate awareness campaigns and/or identify the need for more signage, traffic calming measures, and possibly speed limit reductions.

Traffic Data Analysis reports are an in-depth review of street locations where the Traffic Monitoring Trailers and signs have been placed, including graphs and charts comparing volumes, speeds, and times.