WATCH ABOVE: The province announces speed limits increasing on some BC highways. Ted Chernecki shows Global News viewers where and explains the reasoning behind it.
Speed limits on some B.C. highways are going up to 120 km/h, and the province promises to boost enforcement of the “keep right except to pass” rule.
The province has announced the speed limit increases and other measures as a result of the Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review.
81 per cent of people in the Lower Mainland supported increasing speed limits, according to the province.
However, there will be no speed limit increases in Metro Vancouver.
WATCH: Chris Thompson with SENSE BC joins Global News for reaction
The speed limit on Highway 1 will increase to 110 km/h effective today — but only between Whatcom Road in Abbotsford and the junction with Highway 3 in Hope.
The Sea-to-Sky highway will also see its speed limit rise to 90 km/h or 100 km/h in sections, from 80 km/h or 90 km/h.
On Vancouver Island, the speed limit on Highway 19 from Parksville to south of Campbell River will increase from 110 km/h to 120 km/h.
120 km/h will also be the new speed limit outside of Peachland, from Aspen Grove to the Drought Hill Interchange.
The province says it will also bring changes to the Motor Vehicle Act to enforce the issue of slow-moving vehicles in the fast lane.
In addition to giving stronger powers to police to enforce the “keep right” law, new signage and pavement markings will be introduced.
On Highway 4, new signage advising motorists with more than five vehicles following them to pull over, will be piloted.
Examples of some of the new signage to be introduced:
Regulations around winter tires will also be modernized.
The requirement for winter tires on high mountain passes will be shortened by one month. October 1 to March 31 will be the new timeframe, instead of the old timeframe of October 1 to April 30.
Preventing wildlife collisions will also be a focus. There will be more signage and flashing LED lights in high crash locations, along with additional wildlife fencing.
The province says investments in infrastructure, driver education and improved vehicle technology have all contributed to a 28 per cent drop in serious crashes on provincial highways since 2003.
Full list of the increased speed limits
Speed limits will be adjusted on approximately 1,300 kilometres of provincial highway. This is approximately 15% of the over 9,100 kilometres of provincial highway reviewed during this process. The majority of recommended increases are limited to an additional 10 km/hr.
Unless otherwise noted, new speed limits will be phased in over the summer.
Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon:
Highway 1 Whatcom Road (Exit 95) to junction with Highway 3 (74 km)
New speed limit: 110 (in effect today)
Previous speed limit: 100
Highway 1 East of Lake of the Woods Rest Area to Boston Bar (55 km)
Current speed limit: 80, 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 1 Boston Bar to Falls Creek (24 km)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 7 Vehicle pull-out west of Haig Scale, Agassiz to Highway 1 junction, Hope (5 km)
Current speed limit: 90, 100
New speed limit: 100
Sea to Sky:
Highway 99 Eagle Ridge Interchange, Horseshoe Bay to south of the Stawamus River Bridge near Squamish (35 km)
Current speed limit: 80
New speed limit: 90
Highway 99 North of Depot Road, Squamish to Function Junction, Whistler (45 km)
Current speed limit: 80, 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 99 South of Whistler Heliport Road to Pemberton Boundary (21 km)
Current speed limit: 80
New speed limit:90
Highway 99 East of Lillooet near the Pavilion Lime Plant to the Highway 97 junction (22 km)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Vancouver Island:
Highway 1 Three 80 km/h sections between Bench Road, Cowichan Bay and Beck Road, north of the Nanaimo Airport (totalling 10 km)
Current speed limit: 80, 90
New speed limit: 90
Highway 19 Parksville to south of Willis Road, Campbell River (114 km)
Current speed limit: 110
New speed limit: 120
Highway 19 Duncan Bay Road to Menzies Road, Campbell River (4 km)
Current speed limit: 80
New speed limit: 90
Highway 19 Campbell River to Sullivan Road, Sayward (44 km)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 19 North of Campbell Way, Port McNeill to Douglas Street, Port Hardy (35 km)
Current speed limit: 80, 90
New speed limit: 100
Southern Interior:
Highway 1 Six Mile Rest Area near Tobiano to Savona (12 km)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 1 Chase to Hilltop Road, East of Sorrento (25 km, excluding 60 km/h section through Sorrento)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 1 Canoe (near Salmon Arm) to Highway 23 South, Revelstoke (58 km, excluding 60 km/h section through Sicamous)
Current speed limit: 90, 100
New speed limit: 100
Highway 1 Highway 23 North, Revelstoke to Anderson Road, Golden (101 km excluding parks)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 3 Start of Highway 3 (Exit 170) to junction with Highway 5 Coquihalla (7 km)
Current speed limit: 100
New speed limit: 110
Highway 3 Sunshine Valley to Manning Park East Boundary (33 km)
Current speed limit: 80, 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 3 Sunday Summit to Whipsaw Creek, west of Princeton (22 km)
Current speed limit: 80
New speed limit: 90
Highway 5 Hope (Exit 177) to Othello Road (4 km)
New speed limit: 110 (in effect today)
Previous speed limit: 100
Highway 5 Othello Road, near Hope to Highway 1 junction, near Kamloops (200 km)
New speed limit: 120 (in effect today)
Previous speed limit: 110
Highway 5 Heffley to Little Fort (67 km, excluding 60 km/h section through Barriere)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 5A Old Hedley Road, north of Princeton to Highway 97C junction (36 km, excluding 70 km/h section through Aspen Grove)
Current speed limit: 80
New speed limit: 90
Highway 6 New Denver to Purdy Road, north of Hills (15 km, excluding 70 km/h section through Hills)
Current speed limit: 80
New speed limit: 90
Highway 6 Purdy Road, Hills to Upper Brouse Road, Nakusp (22 km)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 33 South of Gallagher Road to McCulloch Road (32 km)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 33 North of Highway 3 junction, Rock Creek to Westbridge (12 km)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 97 North of Willow Drive, 70 Mile House to BCR Overpass, 100 Mile House (37 km)
Current speed limit: 100
New speed limit: 110
Highway 97 Gatzke Road, north of Oyama to College Way, south of Vernon (16 km)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100 – Pending completion of engineering assessment to determine if median barriers are required before implementation of the new speed limit.
Highway 97 Highway 97A junction near Swan Lake to Westside Road (6 km)
Current speed limit: 80
New speed limit: 90
Highway 97A north of Smith Drive, Armstrong to Highway 97B junction, Enderby (18 km excluding 50 km/h section through Enderby)
Current speed limit: 90
New speed limit: 100
Highway 97A Highway 97B junction, near Grindrod to Sicamous (33 km, excluding 50 km/h section through Grindrod)
Current speed limit: 80
New speed limit: 90
Highway 97C Merritt to Aspen Grove (22 km)
Current speed limit: 100
New speed limit: 110
Highway 97C Aspen Grove to Drought Hill Interchange, Peachland (78 km)
New speed limit:120 (in effect today)
Previous speed limit:110
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