Vancouver Island is considered Canada’s West Coast playground. Boasting a number of wilderness parks and softly curving beaches, it is both a cosmopolitan center and a cozy vacation spot. The increased traffic as a result of its paradisian sites may be what’s caused the spike in crashes across the province. Regardless of what triggered it, the British Columbia government has taken action in an effort to bring that number down.
Three highways (15 stretches total) on Vancouver Island will see a reduction of 10 km/h; ironically, they were actually increased four years ago to combat accidents that were occurring in “certain corridors.” A new study found these three highways to be the most crash-prone in the region, and the province announced their speed limits would be rolled back accordingly.
- The stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway from Cowichan Bay to Nanaimo will fall from 90 km/h to 80 km/h.
- The stretch of Highway 19 from Parksville to Campbell River will fall from 120 km/h to 110 km/h.
- The stretch of Highway 19 from Sayward to Bloedel will fall from 100 km/h to 90 km/h.
The ministry plans to replace around 339 speed limit signs by the end of the week, but the change has already gone into effect on a total of 660 kilometers of B.C. highways.
Since Canadian for-hire trucking firms are responsible for over 80% of the intra-provincial tonnage shipped, it’s important that heavy haul truckers — and Island trucking companies especially — stay aware of their speeds. Commercial logistics is vital in a country that spans over 9,000 kilometers; many GPS systems won’t recognize the speed change, so vigilance is essential for Island trucking companies that operate in the province — for both timely deliveries and safety.
“We know people want to get where they’re going quickly. Our job is to help make sure they also get there safely,” transportation minister Claire Trevena said in a statement. “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.”
