Vancouver/Fraser Valley – The City of Rossland has done something rare in our motor vehicle centric world where many drivers think that faster is better. Effective on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 the speed on municipal streets has been lowered to 30 km/h. Hmm you say, that’s the same speed as a school zone. Well, not in Rossland, the speed there has been lowered too. It’s 15 km/h in pick up areas and 20 km/h elsewhere. Interesting!
Reducing speeds on residential streets from 50 km/h to 30 km/h results in a significant reduction in injury and fatality when a vehicle collides with a pedestrian.
Reducing speeds on residential streets results in a more livable neighbourhood. Everyone will be more likely to play, walk or bike because they feel less threatened by drivers.
Do you have 30 seconds to spare? The city’s newsletter contrasts travel times on one of the streets before and after the change. It will cost drivers half a minute.
It will be interesting to revisit this decision in a years time to see if the citizens of Rossland keep this as their residential speed and to ask ICBC about it’s effect on collision rates. If it turns out to be successful perhaps this is the example you can use to help convince your municipality to follow suit.
The author is a retired constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. To comment or learn more, please visit drivesmartbc.ca.
Constable Tim Schewe (Retired)
