(Photo credit: Matteo Paciotti/Creative Commons)
Pedestrians and cyclists may be relieved to hear that Queen’s Park is considering lowering the default speed limit to 40 km/h from 50 km/h in some Ontario cities and towns.
Currently, the Ontario government is running comprehensive consultations, which will include workshops, questionnaires and webinars, with other municipalities to discuss the options, according to the Toronto Star.
The Ontario government has four options to choose from:
- Keep the current default speed limit at 50 km/h
- Lower the default speed limit to 40 km/h
- Let municipalities decide the default speed limit in their cities or towns
- Let municipalities decide specific speed limits in certain neighbourhoods
“We have heard from a number of municipalities — for example, Ottawa —that as urban areas continue to intensify, lower speeds may be appropriate in high pedestrian areas and have requested a change to the default speed limit to enhance pedestrian safety,” a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Star.
Following the posted speed limit gives drivers enough time to react to an unexpected situation, which also affects the control they have over their vehicles. Speeding is a frequent reason for many motor vehicle accidents and in 2014, the New Zealand Transportation Agency launched a graphic advertising campaign last year to illustrate the importance of driving at the posted speed limit.
In 2011, motor vehicle accidents caused by speeding resulted in 80 deaths, which accounts for 16.1 per cent of fatal crashes, according to the Ministry of Transportation’s 2011 Ontario Road Safety Annual Report.
Speeding has also been cited as a factor for higher fatal pedestrian collisions in rural areas, according to a 2010 Pedestrian Death Review, which was conducted by the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario. The study analyzed fatal pedestrian deaths in 2010. It discovered that 67 per cent of pedestrian fatalities occurred on roads with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h. Only five per cent of pedestrian deaths occured on roads with speed limits less than 50 km/h. Pedestrian deaths in Ontario rose to 98 in 2011 from 95 in 2010, according to the MTO report. The Coroner’s report recommends that municipalities be allowed to lower the default speed limit to 40 km/h in residential areas.
In 2007, the Ontario government passed Bill 203: Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act which levies tougher street racing penalties in an attempt to crackdown on dangerous driving. If you are caught driving 50 km/h more than the posted speed limit, you can face a penalty of up to $10,000, your license may be suspended immediately and your vehicle could be impounded for seven days. The province’s penalty imposes one of the highest fines for street racing in the country.
Motor vehicle accidents happen and accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident regardless of who caused the accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.