How about 40 km/h on residential streets?
Compromise still offers a safety boost while being easier for public to accept
Calgarians may be confused about why the question of residential speed limits is suddenly a priority at city hall, but a simple compromise could prevent this from becoming a prolonged and divisive debate.
It’s not the first time the question of lower residential speed limits has come up, nor is Calgary the first city to consider such a change, but new powers bestowed upon Calgary via the new city charter would make a broad, sweeping change that much easier and proponents of the idea have seized the opportunity.
The mayor and six councillors have backed a notice of motion to lower the default speed limit from 50 km/ h to 30 km/ h residential streets. The notice of motion would also push for changes to road design, aiming for neighbourhood streets that would be more suited to a lower speed limit. The matter is set to be debated this week.
The argument from proponents of the change is that a pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at a slower speed is much more likely to survive the encounter. This is no doubt true. However, there does not appear to be an epidemic of such encounters on residential streets in Calgary.
That’s not to say that there aren’t issues with pedestrian safety in Calgary. An investigation by the Herald earlier this year revealed that the 10-year period from 2004– 2014 saw 3,834 pedestrian-involved collisions, resulting in 3,317 injuries and 95 fatalities. Much of that occurred along busier streets that wouldn’t fall under the definition of “residential.”
But it’s probably true that at least some of the problem could be addressed by slowing drivers down in residential areas. Why, though, does it have to be 30 km/ h?
Amid the sudden furor last week that erupted around the speed limit proposal, Ward 12 Coun. Shane Keating stepped forward with a pretty reasonable solution: let’s split the difference between those defending the status quo and those pushing for change and go with a 40 km/h speed limit for residential streets.
While proponents of 30 km/ h will no doubt argue that 30 is safer than 40, one could also argue that 20 is safer than 30 and 15 is safer than 20, and so on. The fact is that 40 km/ h still delivers a safety improvement over the status quo and it’s a change that is far more likely to have public buy-in.
Moreover, the city’s own 2016 pedestrian strategy, designed with the express aim of improving pedestrian safety, specifically called for a reduction of the speed limit to 40 km/ h in residential areas. That plan, by the way, also called for safety audits in problem areas, improvements in clearing ice and snow, and improved safety measures at train crossings, among other things.
Perhaps residential speed limits aren’t the be all and end all.
Communities like Okotoks and Banff have lowered their residential speed limits to 40 km/ h and there is no great outcry that the change was insufficient. In 2010, a handful of Edmonton communities experimented with a 40 km/ h speed limit, and three of them were impressed enough with the results that they made the change permanent.
Implementing 40 km/h doesn’t have to be the final word, either. Since we’re talking about changing the default speed limit, it would be simple enough to make the change again in five years (or whenever) if enough people were convinced this compromise compromised too much.
This idea would also provide some valuable data and feedback as to whether one-size-fits-all is the best approach. If 30 km/ h works better on some streets and 40 km/ h works better on others, perhaps a solution could be found to accommodate both.
It’s not reasonable to expect widespread speed enforcement throughout Calgary’s vast network of residential streets, so public acceptance is crucial. Any approach that can minimize the level of public cynicism is therefore advisable. Give 40 a chance.
“Afternoons with Rob Breakenridge” airs weekdays 12:30-3:30 p.m. on 770 CHQR rob.breakenridge@corusent.com twitter.com/RobBreakenridge