CALGARY – If you’re planning a trip to Okotoks, watch your speed! The town has voted to reduce the residential speed limit to 40 km/h.
The reduced limit was already in place in about half the town because residents had requested lower speed limits in their communities. The rest of town made the change last month.
Calgary also has a number of roads that have been changed to 40 km/h at the request of people living in the community.
City Councillor Druh Farrell says it would be more cost effective for the city if the lower speed limit was put in place right across Calgary, and would better reflect the wishes of people who call the city home.
“We have a small team working on that and we have a long, long list of communities waiting for community traffic studies. So there is a logjam simply because of the demand,” said Farrell.
“It really speaks to a more global issue that we have a speeding problem in residential areas.”
The speed limit on main roads in Okotoks will stay at 50 km/h.
According to the World Health Organization, pedestrians have a 90 per cent chance of surviving being hit by a car travelling at 30 km/h.
The odds of surviving drop to less than 50 per cent if the vehicle is going 45 km/h.
For comparison, a 30 km/h residential speed limit has been in place in Airdrie for more than 30 years.
CLICK HERE more information on road safety and speed.
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