Vancouver Considering Lowering Speed Limits for Pedestrian Safety

Wanyee Li reports from Vancouver, British Columbia, where the city is considering a proposal that would lower speed limits on local roads to 30 km/h. The proposal responds to worsening traffic safety, including pedestrian safety, in Canada.

"The latest data from Transport Canada shows 284 pedestrians died after being struck by a vehicle in 2017," according to Li. "The problem appears to be getting worse: A report issued last year by the Office of Economic Co-operation and Development found the number of pedestrians killed in Canada increased by 10.5 per cent between 2010 to 2016."

The problem is also acute in Vancouver, where "there were 565 motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians in 2017, according to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)."

Li's also provides details of the political debate surrounding the proposal—some believe the law would be unenforceable. Others believe the city also needs to make improvements at high-risk intersections. The idea that the proposed speed limits don't go far enough is explored in more detail in another article written by Adrienne Tanner.