Although a new police report suggests crime in Ottawa is declining, neighbourhood advocates say speeding continues to be a serious problem.

Between 2005 and 2007, speeding played a factor in 9,000 crashes across the city. One-third of those collisions resulted in injuries, as well as 97 deaths.

In Ottawa's south end, the Upper Hunt Club Community Association is lobbying to reduce the speed limit on Hunt Club Road from 80 kilometers per hour to 60 kilometres. The road carries 45,000 vehicles every day, making it Ottawa's second busiest road.

"I think it's almost like a highway for some of them, and they zigzag around all of us when we're actually doing the speed limit," said Ottawa resident Brigitte Pollock.

Pollock says it's common for motorists to exceed the speed limit on Hunt Club Road, making it a danger to neighbourhood kids.

"We have lots of kids around that area and coming back from school and in the morning and I think it would help for safety reasons," she said.

Coun. Diane Deans, who represents the area, has already looked into the possibility of reducing the speed limit on Hunt Club Road. Although many think it's the best solution, Deans says traffic experts told her that lowering the speed limit could make the road less safe.

"If we actually were to reduce the speed limit from 80, for example, to 60, the traffic would still flow at the same rate they're flowing today, only the amber light time would be reduced under provincial legislation. So it actually, in their contention, makes the road less safe," Deans told CTV Ottawa.

In the meantime, Deans says she's asked city staff to install a new pedestrian countdown sign to let people know how much time they have to safely cross the street.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Vanessa Lee