Traffic safety tips

April’s traffic safety focus is Speed Limits.

Speed limits are put in place to keep ourselves, friends, neighbours and family members safe on city streets. It doesn’t matter if you’re driving, cycling, or riding a motorcycle or scooter, when it comes to a crash, speed is the biggest determining factor for injuries. Speed creates the energy that causes damage, injury and death in collisions. Speeding by even a few km/h over the posted speed limit increases the likelihood of an incident.

In Calgary, the default unposted speed limit for motorized vehicles on neighbourhood streets is 40 km/hr. Drivers must stay at or below that speed on any road that does not have speed limit signage.

The change to the standard speed limit from an unposted 50 km/hr speed limit to 40 km/hr came into effect in 2021 and applies to the speed limits on both residential and collector roads in neighbourhoods.

• Residential roads are the roads in front of most houses, typically have no center line, and have less traffic.
• Collector roads have residences, schools, businesses, green spaces, typically have a center line, and are often bus and snow routes.

• The speed limit in alleys is 15 km/h.
• People cycling on pathways must keep speed to a maximum 20 km/hr unless otherwise posted.
• The speed limit in school and playground zones is 30 km/h during the hours indicated on signs.
• Fines are doubled in a construction zone.
  • Driving at dangerously high speeds putting other drivers, workers or pedestrians at risk can result in a criminal charge.
• Reduced speeds may be required on any roadway, depending on traffic or road conditions.
• Most speed signs have a white background and are enforceable by law.
• Some speed signs have a yellow background.
  • These signs typically appear on exit ramps and serve as a suggestion for your speed during less than ideal conditions such as weather.

In Calgary, traffic collisions account for a total societal cost of approximately $1.2 billion a year which include medical costs, first responder costs, property damage and lost productivity. As part of the Council-approved Safer Mobility Plan, a key target is to achieve a 12-per-cent reduction in the pedestrian and bicycle casualty collision rate per population of 100,000 based on a three-year rolling average.

Recent studies have shown that a one-per-cent reduction in average driving speed is expected to result in a two-per-cent reduction in all collisions, a three per cent reduction in injury collisions and a four-per-cent reduction in fatal collisions.

Reducing driving speeds in residential neighbourhoods can also help Calgarians feel safer and more comfortable when moving around in their community, whether they choose to walk, cycle or drive.

Check out the Calgary Traffic Tips booklet for the information you need to become more knowledgeable, safe and confident when moving around Calgary streets and sidewalks.