A grieving father calls for lower speed limits following Jasmin Hanif’s death on Evans Road

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A city councilor admitted that Evans Road, the scene of 10-year-old Jasmin Hanif’s death after being hit by a car three weeks ago, has been a known issue for pedestrians and speed for three years and yet no action was taken.

Jasmin’s father Shakeel Hanif didn’t hold back during Saturday’s meeting with Ward 15 City Councilor Judi Partridge, Hamilton Police, and the city traffic division to talk road safety.

“We are here because Jasmin is gone,” Hanif bluntly said. “Because if Jasmin wasn’t gone, we’d all be doing our own thing today.”

Three weeks after Jasmin’s death, the City of Hamilton began to make some changes to the busy road by installing a speed tracking sign, traffic bollards and increasing its traffic presence.

However, though it wasn’t mentioned on camera, Partridge said she knew about problems on Evans Road from three years ago, which prompted Jasmin’s father to question what took so long to make any changes.

“You knew this three years ago, all it took was three weeks to put up some signs and that could have saved my child,” Hanif said.

Partridge didn’t directly respond to Hanif’s comments but said after the meeting that she gives all roads safety priorities.

“Evans Road as a result of this has become a priority, but that doesn’t mean that other roads are not priorities as well,” the councilor said.

Those who live on Evans Road have said many people drive well above 50 kilometres per hour speed limit. Hamilton Police said in just three days they’ve handed out 37 speeding tickets in the area.

On June 14 a motion will be brought to City Council to reduce the speed limit on Evans Road to 40 kilometres per hour.

Whatever the outcome of the motion, the peace of mind for any change will be bittersweet for the grieving Hanif family and their friends.

“So now my daughter passed away so now they say well I guess it’s time to act, three weeks too late, three years too late,” Hanif lamented.

The City said they hope the new bypass in Waterdown will also be open to traffic by September in order to alleviate congestion on Evans Road.