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Alberta’s government plans to test out a higher speed limit on some rural divided highways next year after the results from a recent survey suggested most people in the province are in favour of the proposal.
The Alberta government said it collected around 59,400 responses from an online survey conducted between Nov. 7 to Dec. 12, and that 68 per cent of respondents voiced their support for increasing speed limits on rural divided highways from 110 kilometres per hour to 120 km/h.
More than 90 per cent of respondents were also in support of restricting commercial trucks from certain lanes on major highways, the province said in a news release issued Tuesday.
Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen said the feedback gathered aligns with what the province has heard from industry experts and municipal leaders.
“Alberta’s divided highways were engineered to safely handle 120 km/h, and advances in vehicle safety and road design make that even more practical today,” his statement read.
WATCH | Should Alberta increase the speed limit on some highways in the province?:
Should Alberta increase the speed limit to 120 km/h on divided highways?
The province is asking Albertans to weigh in on whether speed limits should be increased to 120km/h on some divided highways. However, experts say the move would be a step backward for road safety.
In 2014, B.C. increased its speed limits to 120 km/h on some sections of its highways.
Four years later, that province scrapped the speed limit increase after data found higher rates of serious and fatal collisions.
In a statement to CBC News on Tuesday, the Alberta Motor Association said it believes decisions on highway speed limits “must keep the safety of Albertans first and foremost — and be informed by traffic safety research and supported by public education and enhanced enforcement.”
Alberta’s government said when it launches its controlled mini-trial on a 120 km/h speed limit next year, it will be on “select rural divided highways, paired with strong monitoring and safety evaluation.”