People are driving faster and ending up in more serious collisions on the Trans-Canada Highway between Chase and Sorrento since the speed limit was increased in 2014.
This 25-kilometre stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway, which runs in part along Shuswap Lake, is one of about 1,300 kilometres of rural B.C. highway that saw a speed limit increase in 2014.
A UBC study, released this week in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s (MOTI) Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review, shows the speed increases the ministry put in place on 33 sections of highway, have resulted in a “statistically significant increase of crash frequency of 11.1 per cent.”
The study was based on data contained in the review. The study’s authors admit their evaluation period was relatively short, and recommend further evaluation.
Data in the review shows the volume of serious collisions has increased since mid-2013 on 17 of the 33 highway segments. It fell on eight and stayed the same on three.
Regarding the Chase to Sorrento segment, the review shows that since the speed limit was increased from 90 to 100-kilometres an hour in 2014, the number of collisions resulting in serious injury or fatality (according to ICBC data) has increased. In fact, collision numbers for 2014/15 represent a peak over the 10 year study period.
The majority of these collisions (20 per cent) are attributed to road conditions (snow, ice and slush) and improper turning (15 per cent).
The review also shows drivers are travelling faster along the Chase/Sorrento segment, with an increase to the 85th percentile speed (the speed that no more than 15 per cent of traffic is exceeding), from 105 to 111-km/h.
The review notes the Chase to Sorrento section is one of seven (of the 33) to experience this phenomena, and will be addressed by the ministry.
“Although this information is based on limited data, the ministry is taking early mitigation measures to address the safety of these corridors by undertaking improvements and education,” states the report.
The ministry says it will be rolling back speed limits on two of the seven sections – on Highway 1 between Hope and Boston Bar, and on Highway 5A between Aspen Grove and Princeton. However, it is not planning other speed reductions at this time, says ministry spokesperson Kate Mukasa. Instead, it will be investing in safety improvements to address the cause of crashes occurring on the seven routes – the big three causes being distracted driving, road conditions and driving too fast for conditions.
Regarding the province’s local mitigation work, Mukasa notes the government’s commitment to continue four lane the Trans-Canada Highway from Kamloops to the Alberta Border is already showing safety benefits with the completion of the Monte Creek to Pritchard Phase 2 project, Pritchard to Hoffman’s Phase 1 project and the Malakwa Bridge four-laning project.
“We have also committed to more projects on the highway including four-laning the remaining two lanes sections between Kamloops and Chase,” said Mukasa in an email. “On the stretch of Highway 1 between Kamloops and Salmon Arm, our four-laning program will help reduce crashes from improper turning. We will invest in new centreline rumble strips to help wake distracted or fatigued drivers up, and we will install new wildlife signs to warn drivers of wildlife areas. These improvements will address factors that contributed to crashes in this area last year.”
The review shows that despite speed limit increases on the 58 kilometres stretch from Canoe to Revelstoke, there was no change to the 85 percentile and the collision rate decreased. On a 33-kilometre stretch between Grindrod and Sicamous, where the speed limit increased from 80 to 90 km/h, the 85th percentile speed decreased from 95 to 94 km/h. There was, however, a small increase in the number of serious collisions, largely attributed to alcohol consumption and road conditions (29 per cent each).
A MOTI news release notes how much the results in the review vary, with seven of the 33 sections showing an increase in the number of collisions (over a 10 year period) yet a decrease in driving speeds.
“This suggests again that there are many different factors that can lead to crashes and speed is only one of them,” comments Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone.