QEW speed limit now 10 km/h faster
Two-year study increases limit to 110 km/h between Hamilton and St. Catharines
There were no issues on the first day of a pilot project increasing the speed limit of a stretch of the Queen Elizabeth Way between Hamilton and St. Catharines.
But it’s too early to know whether the increase — to 110 kilometres per hour — will have an impact on traffic.
The two-year pilot project aims to find ways to improve traffic flow and safety, the Ministry of Transportation says. Along with the QEW stretch, it also includes the 90-kilometre stretch of Hwy. 402 from London to Sarnia and the 102-kilometre stretch of Highway 417 from Ottawa/Gloucester to the Ontario/Quebec border.
During the project, the province will monitor changes to average speed, traffic volume and collision trends in the pilot areas, said MTO spokesperson Bob Nichols. The traffic data will be compared to similar highway sections and data from the pilot locations before implementation.
Public safety is “our No. 1 priority,” he said. “That’s why we have taken our time to consult our enforcement partners and diligently prepare pilot locations to ensure the pilot is conducted safely, and properly.”
New speed-limit signs are in place and monitoring will continue throughout the two years.
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt posted a video on Twitter showing the new110 km/h signs as traffic drove by warning people about the change.
“Watch your speed, OPP enforcement ongoing,” he said.
The province is also looking for public feedback before any decisions are made. Ontarians are invited to participate in an online survey at ontario.ca by Nov. 23, 2019.
III
The Spectator asked readers for their thoughts on the pilot project. Responses were varied.
Here is a sample of what some people are thinking. Responses are edited for length.
“This is a shining example of how the government has no idea what is going on out there in the real world. The truth is nobody has driven 100 (km/h) on the big highways in Ontario since 1940, and now they are going to do a study?” wrote John Gilbert.
“It flies in the face of reason to increase speed limits on our highways thus increasing gas consumption with its attendant increase in producing carbon dioxide, when to reduce such greenhouse gas is paramount to saving our planet from destruction,” wrote Don Brown.
“Awesome! Great decision! Everyone goes that speed anyway so it works for me!” wrote Catherine Peters.
“Perfect. Now make them all 120 as the roads were designed for,” wrote Frank Brock.
“Unbelievable! Now we are going to have more crashes at higher speeds with more deaths and vehicle damage!” wrote Al and Lynda Switzer.