Lower speed in B.C. cities to save pedestrians and cyclists: report
VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s transportation minister is cool toward some recommendations in a new road safety report, including a speed limit of 30 kilometres an hour in urban areas to reduce deaths among pedestrians and cyclists.
The report released by the provincial health officer on Thursday says deaths and injuries among those two groups have not substantially decreased compared to drivers and passengers.
Dr. Perry Kendall said the chance of a pedestrian surviving a crash in a 50 km/h zone is about 15 to 20 per cent versus 90 per cent if the speed is lowered to 30 km/h.
Transportation Minister Todd Stone reacted cautiously to the recommendation on speed.