Lower speeds will protect our children

Times Colonist
January 16, 2013

Re: “Victoria’s push to lower speed limit to 40 km/h gathering momentum,” Jan. 12.

I am pleasantly surprised to see the push for lowering the default speed limit. I am, however, concerned that we frame the question properly to keep everyone calm.

The intention isn’t to lower the speed limit on major roads, just those on small residential roads and in school zones. Currently, our narrow residential side streets are treated the same as the majority of our wider streets.

The default speed limit is 50 km/h, even on our side streets (many of which lack sidewalks) which is the same speed limit as on Blanshard Street (which has six lanes of traffic, a divider, bike lanes and wide sidewalks on both sides).

Two completely different kinds of roads … yet both have the same speed-limits. This makes no sense whatsoever! If a parent wants to walk with his/her toddler and a stroller through our residential neighbourhood, he/she often has to walk in a shared space with cars that are often shooting through our neighbourhoods, shortcutting without a thought for those who live here.

A pedestrian hit at 50 km/h is five times more likely to die than if hit at 30 km/h. Lower vehicle speeds in residential areas are needed and should be accomplished through lower speed limits and road design. Perhaps, with the proper pedestrian infrastructure, some of the larger roads could see speed-limit increases.

Scott Karpes

Saanich