Whereas the current default speed limit on local roads roads without a centre line is 50 kmh, and empirical evidence shows that both the likelihood and severity of collisions - particularly involving vulnerable road users - rise sharply as vehicle speeds increase from 30 kmh to 50 kmh, and as a result reducing vehicle speeds on local roads is a proven strategy to improve safety, enhance livability, reduce social costs, and support increased active transportation mode share; And whereas existing legislation obliges municipalities to reduce speed limits via bylaws and requires that municipalities install signed speed-limit reductions on every block of local roads, which imposed substantial financial and administrative burdens on municipalities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the Province of British Columbia to amend the Motor Vehicle Act to establish a default provincial speed limit of 30 kmh on local roads without a centre line, while preserving municipal authority to increase speed limits on such roads on a case-by-case basis through bylaw and posted signage.
