In the wake of a UBC study which found that increased speed limits on highways led to a significant increase in serious collisions, the B.C. government has lowered speed limits on 15 sections of highways across the province.
However, the 120 km/h limit on the Coquihalla Highway — introduced in 2014 — will remain unchanged.
The speed limit will be lowered by 10 km/h along Highway 97C between Merritt and Peachland. The Merritt to Aspen Grove section was lowered from 110 km/h to 100 km/h, while the Aspen Grove to Peachland section will be dropped from 120 km/h to 110 km/h.
Speed limits will also be rolled back on several sections of Highway 1.
“We know people want to get where they’re going quickly. Our job is to help make sure they also get there safely,” stated Transportation Minister Claire Trevena in a news release. “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.”
According to the news release, 46 per cent of serious collisions on the Coquihalla Highway were caused by driver inattentiveness and driving too fast for conditions. But the review undertaken by the B.C. government found that the accident rate did not increase along the corridor after speed limits were raised in 2014.
The release went on to state that RCMP would be boosting enforcement along the sections which had limits rolled back.
Summary of changes:
- 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
