Speed Limits Reduced On Certain Highways

By Corey Fischer

Nov 6, 2018 | 9:47 AM

The speed limit will be going down on 15 sections of BC highways.

Transportation Minister Claire Trevena says it’s a safety measure.

“Since the former government raised speed limits in 2014, serious crashes have been on the rise. By rolling back speed limits slightly, our goal is to reduce accidents, keep roads open and protect the lives of British Columbians,” says Trevena (pictured).

The changes are being made after the Ministry reviewed three years’ worth of data on 33 segments and 1,300 kilometres of highway, where speed limits were increased as part of the 2014 Rural Safety and Speed Review.

As a result, 15 sections of highway, totalling 570 kilometres, will have speed limits rolled back by 10 km/h. Along with the two corridors that were lowered in 2016, this represents 660 kilometres of B.C. highways where speed limits are being rolled back. The remaining routes did not show higher accident rates and the speed limits will remain the same, including the Coquihalla where variable speed limits are in operation.

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In our general area, the limit from Grindrod to Sicamous on Highway 97A will go from 90 km-h to 80, and Highway 1 from Chase to Sorrento will drop from 100 to 90.

Highway 5, the Coquihalla, will remain the same, but parts of the Coquihalla Connector will be reduced (see below for full list).

“Speeding has been one of the top three factors contributing to car crashes, especially in rural and remote areas of B.C.” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. “Research has shown that reducing speed lowers the number of crashes and severity of injuries, so I am very supportive of the speed limit reductions announced today.

Ministry staff also considered factors like distracted driving, wildlife, changing weather and people driving too fast for conditions in reviewing the data.

“The BC Trucking Association is very supportive of the government’s decision to roll back speed limits on selected highway segments,” said Dave Earle, president and CEO of the association. “The stopping distance for heavy commercial vehicles increases at higher speeds, as does the force of impact, so safety measures that help reduce these risks for both commercial and passenger vehicle drivers are important. As well as safety, lower speeds mean greater fuel efficiency and fewer greenhouse gas emissions, a welcome side effect worth noting.”

On all corridors where collisions increased, the RCMP will be boosting its enforcement to make sure people are adhering to posted speed limits.

“BC RCMP Traffic Services members will be doing our part to enforce the reduced speed limits. Slowing down can significantly reduce the severity of a collision and the chance of drivers being severely injured or killed,” said RCMP Inspector Tim Walton, officer in charge, Island District Traffic Services.

The speed limits are being rolled back by 10 km/h on the following 15 highway corridors that have seen any increase in collisions:

* Highway 1: Cowichan Bay to Nanaimo – 90 km/h to 80 km/h

* Highway 1: Whatcom Road to Hope – 110 km/h to 100 km/h

* Highway 1: Boston Bar to Jackass Mountain – 100 km/h to 90 km/h

* Highway 1: Tobiano to Savona – 100 km/h to 90 km/h

* Highway 1: Chase to Sorrento – 100 km/h to 90 km/h

* Highway 3: Sunday Summit to Princeton – 90 km/h to 80 km/h

* Highway 7: Agassiz to Hope – 100 km/h to 90 km/h

* Highway 19: Parksville to Campbell River – 120 km/h to 110 km/h

* Highway 19: Bloedel to Sayward – 100 km/h to 90 km/h

* Highway 97A: Grindrod to Sicamous – 90 km/h to 80 km/h

* Highway 97C: Merritt to Aspen Grove – 110 km/h to 100 km/h

* Highway 97C: Aspen Grove to Peachland – 120 km/h to 110 km/h

* Highway 99: Horseshoe Bay to Squamish – 90 km/h to 80 km/h

* Highway 99: Squamish to Whistler – 100 km/h to 90 km/h

* Highway 99: Whistler to Pemberton – 90 km/h to 80 km/h

The following 16 corridors showed no reduction in safety, and speed limits will remain the same:

* Highway 1: Salmon Arm to Revelstoke – 100 km/h

* Highway 1: Revelstoke to Golden – 100 km/h

* Highway 3: Hope to Coquihalla – 110 km/h

* Highway 3: Sunshine Valley to Manning Park East Boundary – 100 km/h

* Highway 5: Hope to Kamloops – 120 km/h

* Highway 5: Heffley to Little Fort – 100 km/h

* Highway 6: New Denver to Hills – 90 km/h

* Highway 6: Summit Lake to Nakusp – 100 km/h

* Highway 19: Campbell River to Bloedel – 90 km/h

* Highway 19: Port McNeill to Port Hardy – 100 km/h

* Highway 33: McCulloch Road to Black Mountain – 100 km/h

* Highway 33: Rock Creek to Westbridge – 100 km/h

* Highway 97: Cache Creek to 100 Mile House – 110 km/h

* Highway 97: Swan Lake to Monte Creek – 90 km/h

* Highway 97A: Armstrong to Enderby – 100 km/h

* Highway 99: Lillooet to Cache Creek – 100 km/h

Quick Facts:

* The top three contributing factors for segments with increased collisions are driver inattentiveness, road conditions and driving too fast for conditions.

* On the Coquihalla, 46% of serious collisions were caused by driver inattentiveness and driving too fast for conditions.

* On 14 of the 33 segments reviewed, the average operating speed either stayed the same or decreased after speed limits were increased, including the Coquihalla.

by Corey Fischer