Speed limits in Canada

[john75]

Well over here in Canada driving around my first throughs were great 100 mph on the freeway the legal speed limits.

Ouch I was wrong turns out the speed limit for the freeways over here is 100 kph or about 50 mph.

I will almost be glad to get back to the UK and be able to drive at the great speed of 70 mph.

[chassis 33]

When i was in Ontario over Christmas, i heard the town I was staying in, due to its size and statistics etc, was officially allocated 1/2 a policeman, who coverered an area or almot 200square miles...chances of being pulled for pretty much anything was a gnats whisker off zero!

[Trooper2]

100Kph is 62 Mph.

[jezzaaa]

I heard that one of the provinces (B.C. I think) started putting cameras up. And then the public told the govt that they didn't want them. So they were taken down again. What a wonderful thing democracy is.

Does anyone know how the population told the Govt?? I.e. were there demonstrations, or did they hold a referendum???

J.

[james_j]

jezzaaa said:

I heard that one of the provinces (B.C. I think) started putting cameras up. And then the public told the govt that they didn't want them. So they were taken down again. What a wonderful thing democracy is. Does anyone know how the population told the Govt?? I.e. were there demonstrations, or did they hold a referendum??? J.

It's true the cameras were removed after objections by the public, but I don't know how the objections were presented.

True democracy is a great thing when you see it in action isn't it.

[mcflurry]

The limit in Alberta is 110 km, although the locals drive at 120ish without worry. Pretty much the same as the uk. The courtesy and lack of speed scams is most unlike the uk though..

(90km limit in the National parks, locals do 110)

[pdV6]

Plus (in Ontario, at least) there's a well-publicised sliding scale of penalty points for speeding; the further over you are, the harsher it gets. Seems quite fair in that a slight misjudgement only leads effectively to a minor ticking off, as opposed to the "3 point minimum" we have in the UK.

[gary_tholl]

I just went on a road trip through Saskatchewan (home), Alberta, and BC, down into the US. We cruised quite regularly at 80-90mph (only on the divided highways though).

The trouble here is that most people just aren't expecting cars to be doing 150kph, 90% of the population does 110 everywhere. On the upside, there just isn't the traffic congestion here that you guys put up with. Our roads aren't, generally, in the best shape either, but (again, generally) the visibility is miles and miles.

Speed cams were trialed, but the public outcry had them pulled down within 6 months. Some provinces are starting to talk about them again (BC and Ont, IIRC).

Oh, and we actually had speed limits RAISED last year! (only 10kph, and only on divided highways, but hey).

Too bad the roads in Saskatchewan are soooo boring.

Gary

[Byff]

I would be happily living in Canada right now if people drove a little bit faster. It done my head in driving along straight, clear roads at such a low speed.

Even a Corvette driver was plodding along - I could not have shown that much restraint. My only experience of someone speeding came from a fella in a Healy 3000, giving it welly along a deserted backroad in Niagra-on-the-lake. Sounded lovely!

Despite people driving so considerately, I still came across two speed traps, but at least they were manned by officers.

[turbobloke]

jezzaaa said:

I heard that one of the provinces (B.C. I think) started putting cameras up. And then the public told the govt that they didn't want them. So they were taken down again. What a wonderful thing democracy is. Does anyone know how the population told the Govt?? I.e. were there demonstrations, or did they hold a referendum??? J.

Ontario and British Columbia I think. These people, SENSE had a lot to do with it, plus a change of political power from BLiar like folk to tory type folk, though Candians wil doubtless correct me if I'm wrong.

If you look here there's a lot of the same type of sound scientific argument that the ABD and SafeSpeed use over here. Only in Canada they got further when the political scene changed.

Here are some of the fine words spoken around the time they ditched all forms of photoradar.

A Canadian reporter said:

VANCOUVER - Nearly six years after the NDP first announced plans for photo radar, Premier-elect Gordon Campbell made it very clear that he will stand by his word and photo radar will soon be history in BC. Tuesday's announcement laid to rest recent speculation that the commitment would be diluted or softened by allowing photo radar to operate in another form throughout cash hungry BC municipalities. Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen and Vancouver Police head of traffic enforcement Inspector Ken Davies can take part of the credit for the final killing of photo radar with their strategic blunder in trying to push the issue in recent days. The real victory, however, belongs to the people of BC. "Photo radar represented everything we felt was wrong with the previous government in BC," said SENSE Executive Director Ian Tootill. "It was an invasion of privacy by big government, a giant waste of money, and was an ineffective, heavy handed and arbitrary program with no safety benefits. We faced very stiff opposition from an extremely well funded spin machine that included the NDP, ICBC, BCAA, and other stakeholders. This victory is proof that citizens at a grass roots level can still make a difference if they set their minds to it and show tenacity and patience. We want to thank the many volunteers and concerned citizens who donated their time and financial support in helping SENSE to get to this point."

ABD and SafeSpeed - take heart!

[MercedesAMG]

I live in Canada (Alberta to be specific)and even though the speed limit is 110 on the highway. the only way you will ever get busted is if u actualey get pulled over by a cop. because for some reason radar guns arent allowed outside of urban areas. so ive done 170Kph (115 mph) along there, but i know i can do alot faster if i wanted

[mcflurry]

MercedesAMG said:

I live in Canada (Alberta to be specific)and even though the speed limit is 110 on the highway. the only way you will ever get busted is if u actualey get pulled over by a cop. because for some reason radar guns arent allowed outside of urban areas. so ive done 170Kph (115 mph) along there, but i know i can do alot faster if i wanted

In Feb we was cruising from Banff to Canmore at 130ish, and was regularly overtaken by the delivery lorries 30 tonnes of cargo doing 160 clicks on cruise control is an awesome sight...

p.s. are you on www.mbcanada.com? There are a couple of ANG owners over there

[james_j]

To quote Turbobloke:

"...We faced very stiff opposition from an extremely well funded spin machine ..."

This sounds familiar.