New 40 km/h default speed coming to Edmonton streets Aug. 6

In just under one month, the default speed limit will change on most residential and downtown streets in Edmonton to 40 km/h.

That means, if drivers don’t see a speed limit sign, the speed limit will be 40 km/h instead of 50 km/h.

“This small adjustment will have large benefits in making our streets safer and our communities more livable,” said Jessica Lamarre, the director of safe mobility for the city.

The change will make Edmonton streets calmer, quieter and safer, according to Lamarre.

“Forty km/h increases drivers’ field of vision, gives everyone more time to react and reduces the likelihood of tragic crashes,” she said.

The speed difference also increases the likelihood of someone outside the vehicle surviving a crash, Lamarre said.

“We’re really increasing safety for people who live in their neighbourhoods.

“We’re using streets for much more than vehicle travel.

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“We’re using them to gather as a community, to go the playground, to walk to school. We want to make those streets safer and, really, to make a space that’s much more livable for everyone.”

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The change will have little impact on driving times, the city said, according to an estimated time of arrival tool on its website.

Also on the city’s website is a map showing which streets will be changing to the new default speed.

“While speeding and careless driving are traditionally the top neighbourhood complaints we hear about, the nice weather and easing of pandemic restrictions will likely result in more foot traffic to the downtown core,” Insp. Keith Jonson of the Edmonton Police Service traffic services branch said.

“The 40 km/h speed limit change to these residential and heavy pedestrian areas of the city will make our streets safer for everyone.”

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The city is launching an “extensive public education” campaign to ensure drivers are aware of the change. A grace period will be in effect until Sept. 1 for automated enforcement locations, the city said.

“Drivers who are not following the speed limit in these locations will receive warning notices during this time in lieu of violations,” Lamarre said.

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EPS will continue to give tickets where drivers are travelling at excessive or dangerous speeds during the grace period.

Work to update the signage started in May of this year, moving 50 km/h signs and installing the new ones.

“Any new 40-kilometre signs that are not yet in effect have been bagged, so drivers should see no difference at this time,” Lamarre said. “Starting Aug. 6, they’ll be unbagged and the new speed limit will be in effect.”

The city will also be installing large advisory signs as drivers enter city limits, advising those from out of town about the changes.

The cost of the entire project — including the public information campaign and the new signage — was just over $1 million, but was not paid for through the tax levy. The funds came from the automatic traffic safety reserve — the fines collected from photo radar and so-called speed-on-green cameras.