Abstract Manager

Reducing speed limits in urban areas is a commonly adopted strategy in recent years to reduce the incidence and severity of traffic collisions. Numerous Canadian cities have implemented speed limit reductions as part of their efforts to enhance road safety.

Has this measure made the intended impact in reducing collisions? Has it been met with motorist compliance? What type of roadways have seen bigger impact of this treatment? Finally, as Canadian municipalities plan to further reduce their posted speed limits, what regional data-supported best practices should they keep in mind?

Under Transport Canada’s Enhanced Road Safety Transfer Payment Program (ERSTPP), SMATS Traffic Solutions (SMATS) and the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) partnered to undertake a statistical study, in partnership with Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal, to investigate the impact of speed limit reduction as a road safety strategy with aim of providing critical insights and tools to guide municipalities across Canada in effectively applying this strategy in support of their Vision Zero goals.

The study evaluates the impact of posted speed limit reductions on metrics like vehicle speeds, harsh braking incidents, and harsh acceleration events. SMATS & TIRF speakers will share the outcomes of their study with TAC Conference audiences, including:

• Guidance on when reduced speed limits alone are effective and conditions under which additional measures, such as traffic calming, are needed.
• Statistical models to predict future collisions based on real-time connected vehicle data.
• A comprehensive consideration and implementation framework for speed limit reduction, applicable to diverse urban contexts across Canada.

This session will enable the audience to:

• Enhance road safety for all users, including vulnerable populations.
• Learn practical methodology for avoiding time delays associated with traditional crash data-based assessments of countermeasures.
• Gain actionable insights to support data-driven policy and planning decisions, ensuring impactful and sustainable safety interventions.