Motorists speed past Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School, along Highway 21, on the edge of Kincardine. On Tuesday it was the site of a violent crash, where four vehicles collided, sending three people to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. “There has been too many collisions, and unfortunately the most recent collision has caused big injuries and critical conditions. So we want the community and the students to be safe. And this is one way to do it,” said local parent, Melissa Jackson. Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School officials, and the Municipality of Kincardine have been pushing the province to lower the speed limit along Highway 21, through Kincardine, from 80 km/h to 60 km/h, as well as install a northbound left-hand turn lane, to allow school buses, teachers, and parents, to safely turn into Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School, which is what one of the most seriously injured motorists was doing when they were struck from behind by multiple vehicles, said Jackson. A 2025 traffic study recommended a speed reduction and a turn lane, but the Ministry of Transportation, said no. “At the end of the day, the M.T.O evaluated and put up some signs that say Community Safety Zone. But, we didn’t get the speed reduction that we needed, and we didn’t get the left turn that we needed to keep people safe. When we’re traveling through town, we go past four school locations at 80 kilometres an hour. And, there’s no reason why it should be that fast. A left turn lane lets people come up and safely enter the school, with a decreased risk of being rear ended by someone coming along at a high speed,” said Kincardine’s Councillor at Large, and incoming Deputy Mayor, Rory Cavanagh. Following Tuesday’s violent crash in front of the school, which teachers and parents jumped in to assist before paramedics arrived, Kincardine parents and councillors bombarded Premier Doug Ford with more than 13,000 emails and texts, imploring the province to make the requested safety upgrades. It appears, it worked. Cavanagh says he’s been told the M.T.O is actively reconsidering it’s position, and has committed to reducing the speed limit along Highway 21 from North Line to Bruce Avenue very shortly, and will accelerate plans to install a turn lane in front of Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School. While appreciated, parents and councillors say they’ll believe the changes once they see them. “I attended this school. Back in primary days, it was a concern then. In the past 15 plus years, it has really gotten worse and it’s more of a concern. And Tuesday’s accident is showing that this needs to happen now. The change needs to happen now,” said Jackson, who is also President of the Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School Home and School Association. “I am going to keep pushing and pushing until we actually see the items up here on the ground in person. It’s easy to promise something. It’s much harder to deliver,” said Cavanagh, who has been acclaimed as Kincardine’s incoming Deputy Mayor. At their council meeting on Wednesday night, the Municipality of Kincardine passed a motion imploring the province to make immediate safety improvements to the section of Highway 21, flowing through Kincardine.
