Motor Vehicle Act - Upcoming Recommendations: Safe Neighbourhood Speed Laws

It’s Time for a Safe Neighbourhood Speeds Law

Making our neighbourhoods safer for the most vulnerable.

Setting default neighbourhood speed limits at 30km/hour in the BC Motor Vehicle Act will dramatically improve safety in our communities. It is widely recommended by health agencies, including the World Health Organization and BC’s Provincial Health Officer. Most people want slower speeds in their neighbourhoods: in a 2013 survey by the Canadian Automobile Association, 94% of respondents reported that speeding on residential streets was a serious threat to their personal safety.

We are recommending a Safe Speeds Law that would require all vehicles to travel at a maximum 30km/hour on neighbourhood streets (streets without a centre line) as the default speed limit. Exceptions would need to be specified with a sign on each block. 

Evidence & Support

In London, the introduction of 20 miles/h (32 km/h) zones was associated with a 42% reduction in road casualties. Similar benefits have been found in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands for people walking and cycling. In a Vancouver and Toronto cycling safety study, the injury risk at intersections with traffic speeds up to 30 km/h was half that at higher speed intersections.

We ask that you support this recommendation and help increase road safety for all.

Contacts

Laura Jane, Executive Director, HUB Cycling, laura.jane@bikehub.ca

Mike Koski, Executive Director, BC Cycling Coalition, Mike.koski@bcycling.ca