Reduced Default Speed Limit No Hit with 250 Readers
Prince George, B.C.- The newly released report on road safety in B.C. made several suggestions to government to help reduce the number of fatal crashes in the Province and one recommendations is not gaining any traction with 250News readers.
One of the 28 recommendations contained in “Where the Rubber Meets the Road” was that the default speed limit in urban areas be reduced to 30 km/h, down from the current 50 km/h. According to the report, survivor rates are higher among pedestrians or cyclists struck by a vehicle travelling 30km/h.
In a non- scientific online survey, 250News asked if you supported the reduction in speed. The survey offered four responses and results show readers do not support the speed reduction, rather, they would like the current speed limit enforced. Here are the final results ( note, percentages add up to 101% because of ’rounding’)
Only 11% (120) said they would like the default speed reduced to 30 km/h
42% (466) said the speed should not be reduced
44% (482) said the current default speed limit of 50 km/h should be enforced
4% (39) said the limit should be reduced but not by that much.
The Province has indicated reducing the default limit could only be done following much consultation with communities.
Comments
What really worked for me was the automated speed display that they had on the bottom of Ospika hill coming from college heights.
Most people fail to realize how fast they are going, it is pretty easy to be coasting down the hill at 70-80km/hr. But when you see that flashing number, you will slow it down.
The sign they have on Malaspina is used for speeders to see exactly how fast they can get going from Domano down Malaspina to the school zone.
I do believe from the survey 86 percent of the people feels that 50km/hr is the correct speed.
Huh? Only 44% said that.
42% speed should not be reduced.
44% default speed needs to be enforced.
So that makes it appear that 86% are ok with the current default speed.
By your way of thinking those who responded by saying the current speed limit of 50km/hr should be enforced do not believe the 50km/h speed limit is the correct speed.
Why on earth would people say that speed limit should be enforced if they do not agree with that being the speed limit and they had other choices to respond to?
Please explain yourself. It does not make sense. But perhaps your explanation can make some sense of it.
We have no idea of knowing what the 42% who said the limit should not be reduced think about the current limit other then it shouldn’t be reduced. There was no option for “I like it at 50” or “I think 50 is too low”
We don’t even know what the 42% who want more enforcement think. Are they happy with 50 or do they just get their knickers in a twist when someone does 55?
I can see your point.
However, here is mine:
The poll question specifically addressed “one of the 28 recommendations contained in “Where the Rubber Meets the Road”. That was “the default speed limit in urban areas be reduced to 30 km/h, down from the current 50 km/h.”
The recommendation did not say that current speed limits should be re-evaluated which would have implied that both increases and reductions should be considered.
The recommendation only looked at reducing the speed limit, and was very specific about what it should be reduced to.
The poll addressed the recommendation, nothing more.
Also note the use of the word “default”. Other speed limits could be set as appropriate – 70 on foothills, 80 on the hart, 60 on ospika, etc…..
Maybe it’s time to travel to places like Phoenix and see how to really handle traffic. Main arteries are 45 mph with school zones at 35 mph.
The freeways are 65 mph in town and 75 mph outside of town. Freeways have been shown to be the safest roads even at elevated speeds.
Time to move away from 1950 speed limits especially now that automobiles are 21st century with state of the art suspension packages, braking, air bags, cameras, etc.
That is interesting about Phoenix.
Washington State is the opposite.
The state default speed limit in urban areas is 25mph. Thus residential areas with local roads and even collectors are typically 25mph. Some collectors are 30mph or even 35mph.
County roads (highways) are 35mph by default. There are typically reminders after signalized intersections of the default speed limit. Within a 100 yards or so there will be a posted speed limit if it is different from the default. Those could be 40, 45, 50, and 55mph typically.
Those roads can be, by Canadian standards, quite dangerous in that there is often no shoulder of any kind other than possibly 6 to 12 inches, and very commonly a 3 foot or so deep ditch on at least one side of the road.
School zones have a sing indicating that which has an added flashing light which shows when the speed limit has to be reduced to 20mph down from the default 25mph. I find that to be handy since it lights up only when students are entering or leaving school in the morning, at lunch and in the afternoon.
Interstate highways are 60mph in urban areas and 70mph between cities. Trucks have a separate speed limit of 60mph.
It appears that similar to BC, the police allow 80mph before they start pulling people over.
People are generally good about staying out of the left lane of divided highways if they are not passing. They will readily move out of the way if one gives a flashing light signal. Those who do not typically have a BC license plate. :-)
When I see something a bit fishy, I typically start digging to find out the real story.
phoenix.about.com/od/driving/a/schoolsafety.htm
from the above link:
“Phoenix, Arizona was the first city in the country in 1950 to establish 15 mph zones around schools. While those have been effective in reducing the number of pedestrian/vehicle accidents around some schools, with more than 450 schools in the greater Phoenix area and more than more than 1,700 school-related crosswalks, it simply isn’t possible to slow our ever-increasing population down to 15 mph around every school.”
Notice the picture of 35mph when flashing placed on a divided arterial road which obviously has a higher speed limit on it.
Go to page number two and you see the 15mph signs at cross walks.
Draw your own conclusions about what the real story is about Phoenix’s school zones. Or maybe even do some more snooping on the internet about the topic.
Palm Springs is the same. ya get around in no time.
Another thing to consider when driving in Arizona. Speeding more than 10mph over the 75mph interstate speed limit is considered a criminal offence, as is speeding 20mph over the posted speed limit in residential and industrial areas.
jacksonwhitelaw.com/criminal-defense-law/criminal-speeding-Arizona
from the above link:
“Speeding may seem like a minor violation, when compared to something like a DUI, but in the state of Arizona, excessive speeding can be a misdemeanor crime, making it a serious yet common criminal offenses.
“With penalties of up to 30 days in jail and up to $500 in fines, criminal speeding in Arizona is more than just a traffic citation, it’s something that can affect your personal life and finances for longer than expected.”
I’ve been told that speed limits south of the border are more actively enforced because the various law enforcement agencies such as the Highway Patrol, the Sheriff’s and the County Mounties all derive a large portion of their funding from the monies collected from tickets.
Stands to reason that if you need money in your budget, and the major portion of your budget comes from ticket revenue, then you write more tickets enforcing the speed limits!
The only reason for government to reduce speed limits is to increase revenue generation through fines. Almost nobody, including cops, obeys the 50 km/hr limit now. Reducing it to 30 km/hr guarantees that nobody will obey it.
If people observed the 50 km speed limit it wouldn’t be bad, but most people, especially young people, I see going through our neighbourhood have to be going a lot faster than 50, and it doesn’t seem to matter if there are kids, dogs or people walking on the street. The mentality of most young drivers, and some not so young, is pedestrian beware.
Maybe we should all slow down: there seems to be a general sense of panic and hurry on PG roads.
You’d think it wouldn’t be difficult, but why don’t they set the speed limit at the speed they think is correct for the road, and then enforce it like it’s a limit. Right now everyone is interpreting what the limit is because of what the police enforce. You can quite rightly believe the speed limit posted at 100 is really 114, because RCMP will warn at 115 and ticket at 120. So, if you think 115 is okay, set it at 115 and start writing tickets at 117.
A law, to be effective, shouldn’t be ambiguous. One person thinks 105 is plenty fast, another 115, so you end up with different traffic flows jamming up against each other. Otway, most think 70, posted is 50, I like 60, so I get tailgated doing 10 km over the posted limit. If you mean 70, post 70, I’ll drive 70, but I’m not taking a chance on a ticket because someone else think’s it’s 70 and it’s posted 50.
I don’t know how much the automated speed display costs, but I think having them around town will make people aware of what they are doing. Then have the copper down the street to pull you over if your still heavy footed.
I think school zone speed limits need to be strictly enforced.
I think residential area, the speed limit should be 50kmh
I think the main arteries like Ospika should be 60
If drivers are not aware how fast they are going, then they have NO business driving at all! Every vehicle is equipped with a speedometer.
Ospika may be a main arterial, but look at all the residences, the narrow bike lane, the sidewalks and the poorly marked pedestrian crosswalks! Then remember how many times vehicles have gone off the road in the corner by Pinewood. Just lucky no pedestrians were mowed down.
Just follow that cop…95kms going up the Hart No lites…I’ll get em on dash cam next time…
No matter how many interactions you have had with that police officer I don’t think he/she will allow you to take your dash cam into the back seat of the cruiser. Plus it would be difficult to operate with the police issued jewellry you will most likely be wearing.
The problem, is the people not being respectful to their neighours and speeding. I think, that there are likely a few people on every street that is traveling way too fast, and they need to be confronted with a speeding ticket.
What do you do when ya got the Neighbours from Hell literally?? respect is earned….
In town speed limits (for many streets) are just fine, if people actually adhered to them.
Some in town highway speeds could be adjusted. There would be a host of related safety concerns that need to be addressed before changing speed limits though.
-I firmly believe that pedestrian crosswalks need more prominent signage (not standard white and black) and that any main arterial crosswalk should have either under/overpass or stoplights.
-The lines on our roads need to be made to last, and recessed reflectors used too.
-Traffic lights on main arterials should be timed to enhance traffic flow.
-Traffic enforcement NEEDS to be made paramount. Maybe bring back photo radar and get the RCMP out there aggressively enforcing common driving rules.
If the current speeds were actually followed, and people were “encouraged by law enforcement” to drive as they are supposed to, PG’s roads would be much safer and more pleasant to drive upon.
WTF is up with the crosswalk on Massey between PGSS and Pine Centre mall? Kids dont care to use the lights, and screw up traffic by just sauntering across however they like. Sumbody-gunna-git-a-hurt, REAL BAD! There will be a major incident there, mark my words!
This is a small town, we dont have much real traffic congestion. The majority of our issues are caused by those who feel self entitled to drive however they choose. Drive to the rules and maybe you might enjoy the ride.
Make revenue sharing for violation tickets part of the policing budget too! I see far too many infractions happening in front of cops with nothing being done. Cops also need to follow the rules regarding speeding and electronic device use too, make their laptops shutdown when unit is moving.
Everybody could use the mantra “shut up and drive”.
Be safe!
Had same smart Guys pass me on 16W today and an unmarked Truck Stopped them, keep on speeding and you may loose your License and a lot of Money.
Adding up all the percents you get 101, that always adds legitimacy to any poll
In Alberta the traffic flow is 150 on the highway and 80 in the city. It would be interesting to know the difference in accident rates between the two provinces. Albeit their highways are much better than in BC, but I would argue their city roads are much worse.
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