Drivers heading from Kamloops to the Alberta border will have to ease their foot off the gas pedal in two places.
The province is lowering speed limits on several sections of highway in the province, including two in the Shuswap.
Following a review of 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, 15 sections of highway, totalling 570 kilometres, will have speed limits rolled back by 10 km/h.
This includes a reduction in speed from 100 km/h to 90 km/h on the Trans-Canada Highway between Chase and Sorrento and from 90 km/h to 80 km/h on Highway 97A between Grindrod and Sicamous.
The remaining 14 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. Speed limits remain at 100 km/h on Highway 1 – Salmon Arm to Revelstoke; Highway 1 – Revelstoke to Golden and Highway 97A –Armstrong to Enderby.
Related: Slowing down to prevent accidents
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff state that all contributing factors in serious highway collisions were considered, including speed, distracted driving, wildlife, changing weather and people driving too fast for conditions.
“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.”
On all corridors where collisions increased, the RCMP will be boosting its enforcement to make sure people are respecting posted speed limits and driving safely.
“We know people want to get where they’re going quickly. Our job is to help make sure they also get there safely,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “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.”
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