Achi news desk-
Ontario announced Wednesday that the speed limit will increase to 110 km/h this summer on 10 stretches of highway, including part of Hwy. 416 near Ottawa and part of Hwy. 401 in eastern Ontario.
Quebec’s transport minister shot down the idea and told the National Assembly that the speed limit would remain the same.
Speaking to CTV News, several drivers in Montreal said they were in favor of the new measure and said they would like to see Quebec follow suit.
“I don’t know the statistics behind it but I think increasing the speed limit to 110 might not be a bad idea. I think a lot of time we could benefit from speeding up the traffic a little bit,” said Tom Dodds.
“I think it makes more sense because there is always a range and possibility to cross the border and it will give more space to people. I think it will be practical,” said Mariam Edward.
“I think people are worried right now. The limit is 100 so people rush and go to 115 because the police, so to speak, gives you some leeway. If you put it at 110 people think people are going to go over 125 and [not] Caught by the police but I think that still doesn’t make it more dangerous – 115, 125 – if someone is careful, it’s careful,” Ricardo said in an interview.
The Ontario government has stated that the speed limit on highways in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan is 110 km/h, while the speed limit is 120 km/h in British Columbia. In Quebec, the maximum speed limit on highways is 100 km/h.
Andre Durocher, director of community relations and road safety at the CAA, said it would be too “simplistic” to follow what other counties are doing and that the increased limit should be studied.
In Quebec, the top three causes of road collisions are speeding, impaired driving and distracted driving, he said, adding that the faster you drive, the slower your reaction time.
“If you go from 100 to 100 – if something happens – your reaction time will be less and the consequences can be severe,” said Durocher, a former Montreal police officer. “However, we have to take into account the condition of our roads. I often travel from Florida to Montreal… coming out of Miami, when I come home to Montreal, I encounter my first potholes when I cross the border.”
He said while cars are safer these days at higher speeds compared to decades ago, there are far more distractions for drivers on the road. “Cars become entertainment centers with everything, so there are a lot of distractions,” Durocher said.
Ontario’s Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said in a statement that “much of Ontario’s highway network was originally designed to safely accommodate speed limits of 110 km/h and data from our 2022 changes shows they are doing just that.”
The Ontario government said the changes will take effect on the “majority” of 10 sections of highways across the province on July 12, with the rest happening “before the end of the year.”
With files from CTV Ottawa
