Please watch this video, there is very little to disagree with and he adds some humour to the topic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BKdbxX1pDw

I know it would be a lot more work, but I believe there should be a summer and winter max speed limit. Summer one should be raised to 110 kmh as that is what most people drive and the roads are built better than they used to be. The winter one should be the same as present as most people still dont drive to conditions and I dont believe giving them an excuse to go faster is a good idea in bad conditions

While they’re at it, why not make it a little more difficult get and to keep a driver’s license? That’s the biggest problem on our roads; the inordinate number of idiots behind the wheel.

“how to reduce the risk of wildlife-related crashes on rural provincial highways”

You could start by getting rid of all the brush that grows all the way up to the blacktop on each side in so many areas. Some stretches of our hwy’s are ridiculous.

Why do we have inmates sitting around enjoying all that free time when they could be paying back!

@interceptor…that video has nothing to do with the issue at hand. Does that video talk about animal related crashes which happen WAY more in the North? No. Driving faster isn’t going to help you avoid a 1 ton moose.

amazing 30 years ago, our highway speed limit use to b e 90 km/hr.

I think we should leave the speed limit at 100km/h. My reasoning is that we are already driving 108km/hr. Meaning if we raise it to 110km, we will be cruising at 118 km/h.

I think when they complete the Cariboo connector from city to city, than adjust the speed limit for May to October.

“I think we should leave the speed limit at 100km/h. My reasoning is that we are already driving 108km/hr. Meaning if we raise it to 110km, we will be cruising at 118 km/h.”
Thats part of the fallacy… Some will sure but most wont. People drive at their comfort zone. Thats why people speed up in passing lanes. They suddenly have more room between them and traffic, the ditch etc so their comfort zone raises as does their speed. What a little board says on the side of the road means nothing other than at what level they might get a fine.

So slower is Langdon? 100 is the “magic” speed for moose avoidance? Why not 60 then?

ps – one ton, thats a big moose ;)

I understand that wildlife exclusion fencing has proven very effective in reducing wildlife accidents on the. Coquihalla.

Both that highway and the Transcanada from Hope to the GVRD should be raised to 120 with reduction to 100 around close intersections such as Chilliwack and parts of Abbotsford.

The only improvement I think which should be made is that the merge lanes are on the short sides for those kind of speeds. BUT, a significant number of vehicles already go between 110 and 120.

130 is the common posted speed on European freeways between cities with lower speed limits as congestion sets in.

In fact, I understand that in some parts of the world the speed limits change based on traffic flow. We now have that capability.

I remember driving up to PG from the Okanagan years ago and the majority of Hwy 97 was 80 KMH and you could drive 100 KM without any opportunity to pass.
Continue twinning the road between here and the coast and raise the limits to better reflect the average motorist’s speed that they travel.

Idiots will always be on the road. The issue is what do you call an idiot. Some call a 70 year old man driving a motorhome at 80KMH an idiot. Others call a 17 year old kid weaving through traffic in a POS beater pickup an idiot.

When you get into a good group of drivers running at the highway speed limit + 7 to 10 KMH, driving seems a lot safer to me. It’s the drivers that run under the speed limit that cause issues. If you get a guy doing 85 in a 100 KMH zone and a large transport truck comes up behind him, he will need perfect conditions to safely pass him. Until those perfect conditions present themselves, other drivers in cars and light trucks have to assess the room available to pass not just the transport truck but the guy driving 85 KMH. More passing lanes and ensuring that if you can’t run at 100KMH due to your age, medical conditions or failing eyesight, get off the road and take the Greyhound.

@interceptor – Did I say 100 was a “magic” number? I said driving faster isn’t going to help you avoid a moose. So again…argument = invalid. Nice try.

To answer your question PGguy… Anyone driving slower than you(or me) is an idiot and anyone driving faster is a maniac:P

Speed limits are arbitrary values assigned that is less the the engineered speed of the roadway.
Part of the “sell” for this lower than engineered limit is to present an image of public safety concern to the general population.
Of coarse, another part of that arbitrary speed assignment is to enable the revenue stream of fines for infractions.
“If” they put the speed limit to the engineered speed rate of the road, then there would be less opportunity or “probable cause” to stop a vehicle and interrogate the occupants, not just the driver. This provides another opportunity to check for an individual’s wants and warrants, as well as vehicle contents such a duffel bags of prohibited substances or open alcohol. Sort of an ad hoc road check.

cheese
go

I wouldn’t say that the people driving at 85 KMH cause more issues – its the people who drive at that speed until such time as they hit a suitable passing location, when they speed up to 120 KMH making it almost impossible to safely pass.

True that peegee. Speeding up when you come to a passing lane should be an offense.

You all must forget why the speed limit was lowered to begin with. More speed = more fuel consumption and we were supposed run out if oil in the mid 70’s. Lest we forget the “Energy Crisis”! I guess they found more oil.

How fast would you like the big Rigs to go ?

I thought the speed limit in PG city limits was around 100kmh? That seems to be how fast a lot of people see the need to go. I was going 15k over the limit on the way home tonight and I got passed like I was standing still.

From a person who travels this highway on a regular basis I think hwy 16 east of PG to the border should be 110 from April to October and a 100 from November to March.

During the November to March window highways should be looking at those areas on highway 16 where there are higher then normal accidents with wildlife and implement similar alert notifications when wildlife are present on or near the highway similar to what’s being done in the national parks. Agree from others that a better job at brushing along the highway corridor definitely will help in reducing collisions with wildlife. Another option is similar to the Coquihalla is fencing certain sections of the highway. An expense up front but little maintenance for the long term and it definitely would help reduce highway collisions.

Increase the speed all year around. Screw the speed changes and wildlife fencing BS. People need to pay attention while driving. That’s the best wildlife fence out there.

Why must people always put the blame on everything else other than the human for driving issues that are completely human issues?

We can’t fence in all the highways in BC — consequently there will be some collisions with animals. Any one who thinks law enforcement of speed limits will reduce moose collisions is on drugs. Animals will die on the highways – get used to it — cars will crash — get used to it; just please stop using tickets as a deterrent to drive at a normal safe speed and pay attention to the facts when you read them. The video is correct and the cops know it.

LOl, so true

One only has to look at the improvement in automobiles to realize the present speed limits are draconian.
50 years ago highway speed limits were 60 mph. Today the speed limits remain relatively the same yet massive improvements in automobile safety have taken place.
Today we have disc brakes, ABS, seat belts, air bags, variable suspension packages, collapsible bumpers, radial tires,etc.
A little research will indicate the safest place to drive in the USA is on freeways where the speed limits reach 75 mph and higher in some states.