Safer Speed Zones in Residential Areas

Whereas currently, the Motor Vehicle Act MVA stipulates a speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour kmh within city limits; And whereas the probability of pedestrian survival is about 90 if struck by a motor vehicle travelling at 30 kmh, while survival is reduced to 20 if struck by a motor vehicle travelling at 50 kmh; And whereas lower speed limits are more compatible with active transportation, and create safer, better engaged, healthier and more inclusive communities; And whereas in 2015, the BC Road Safety Strategy set out the goal of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries and discussed safe speeds. In 2016, the Provincial Health Officers Annual Report also recommended a 30 kmh speed limit in urban areas; And whereas in June 2016, as part of its position paper, Modernizing the BC Motor Vehicle Act, the British Columbia-based Road Safety Law Reform Group recommended: A default provincial speed limit of 30 kmh for local no centre line streets should be included in the Motor Vehicle Act, with municipalities enabled to increase speed limits on local streets in a case by-case basis by by-law and posted signage.; And whereas in 2018, the provincial governments BC Community Road Safety Toolkit recommended lower speed limits in downtown areas and residential roads; and under the Motor Vehicle Act, changes to default speed limits require street-by-street, block-by-block posted signage which could otherwise incur significant expense for local governments: Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure be asked to consider an amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act that would allow incorporated municipalities to institute blanket speed zones in residential areas.