By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Speed limits rolled back on two stretches of mid-island highways

Nov 6, 2018 | 9:32 AM

NANAIMO — Mid-island drivers will have to go a little slower following speed limit reductions in the area.

Both the Trans-Canada Hwy. From Cowichan Bay to Nanaimo and Hwy. 19 from Parksville to Campbell River are being reduced by 10 km/h.

The route to Nanaimo will now be posted at 80 km/h, while the speed limit between Parksville and Campbell River will be 110 km/h.

The changes are being implemented after a three-year study of roughly 1,300 kilometres of highways all across B.C. Speed, distracted driving, wildlife, changing weather and examples of people driving too fast. The routes analysed all received speed limit increases after a 2014 review.

In total, 570 kilometres of highway are being rolled back to their 2014 speeds. Of the 33 segments of highway where the speed limit was increased, 15 are being reduced.

whale rescue

Killer whale calf trapped in B.C. swims out of lagoon

52m ago

permanent home

'We're hugely grateful:' Nanaimo Men's Shed group finds a place to call home

4h ago

Making an impact

Nanaimo woman publishes books to open awareness of neurodiverse children

17h ago

“Speeding has been one of the top three factors contributing to car crashes,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a release. “Research has shown reducing speed lowers the number of crashes and severity of injuries.”

RCMP will be closely watching the areas affected by the change.

“Slowing down can significantly reduce the severity of a collision and the chance of drivers being severely injured or killed,” RCMP Inspector Tim Walton said.

The stretch of Hwy. 19 from Bloedel to Sayward is also being reduced.

Two highway segments in the north island, from Campbell River to Bloedel and Port McNeill to Port Hardy, won’t be changed.

The full study can be found online. 

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @nanaimonewsnow