NEWS - Variable Speed Limit Signs Activated
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Variable speed signs are now operational in three areas of British Columbia. The signs will be changed to moderate traffic speeds during poor weather in an effort to prevent collisions. On site weather and road condition monitors report to the regional traffic management center in Coquitlam where staff will change the speed signs remotely. A flashing yellow light on the top of the sign will flash when the speed had been reduced to reinforce the fact that action must be taken by drivers.
These signs are not a recommendation. Failing to follow the speed displayed on them will result in the driver being ticketed when enforcement is present.
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Comments
Modern Technology
Seems like a clever application, to me.
Particularly in mountainous terrain, with changes in elevation, precipitation and freezing levels can alter quickly.
new signs
These will only be effective to stop those who cause fatal accidents and serious injuries, if the next sign says- get ready to be towed, phone for a ride, after pulling over.
Surely the BC Government is dreaming if they think signs will make a difference to those who continue to speed, drink/drug and drive and keep texting,daily. It is a small percentage , but they are the killers on BC Roads. Electronic mentoring -not electronic signs are required.
You should keep in mind, though ...
... that the majority of fatal / serious-injury accidents are caused by sober people who weren't texting at the time.
But perhaps you don't care about them, or feel that they deserve to be provided with this useful information and guidance as to the maximum legal speed in effect where they're driving?
causes of fatal accidents in BC
According to ICBC stats(not updated since 2013) speeding , impaired, distracted driving accounts for 80% of fatal car crashes .
While variable speed signs are a nice remindeer for law abiding drivers- those who cause fatal and serious injouries need more than a reminder on a electronic sign. We have them already on manyy raods sides and some folks just keep on speeding by. Some drivers need education by enforcement-an opportunity lost-to save lives..
Follow up on new signs
Should we not be concerned about the safety of traffic enforcement officers who would be expected to intercept and stop speeders during conditions that would require slower speeds.? Conditions such as fog, icy roads, snow or most often on Vancouver Island -heavy rain .
If ICBC is investing in high tech electronic signage, why not monitor excessive speed-those travelling 45kph or more over the updated limit-and not put our traffic police at risk in bad weather?
new signs
ICBC hs not updated their website stats since 2013, but BC had submittted statistics to Transport Canada as required. Transport Canada requires update within 8 months of year end.
In 2014 the BC fatality rate for road accidents was higher than the Canadian average. Not good news for BC Liberals.BC Voters are dying on BC roads at a higher rate than other Canadains
This may be OK for you -but not for me. I want high risk drivers off our roads. I want my family. my friends to arrive safe-not because some one lobbies to get there fast. It is unacceptable to have Provincial polices that increase the risk of death while driving.I'm voting for change.
Slow drivers, following the limit plus 10 are not the problem -it is excessive speeders and impaired or distracted drivers.Electronic enforcement is a cost effective solution. Benign signs won't do it.
New signs won't reduce injuries and deaths on BC roads
We allready have signs posting the maximum speed.Many drivers determine their own maximun. Evidenced by occasional RCMP IRU radar campaigns at Cook Creek and the Malahat where many who set their own maximums are ticketed or towed. When there is a tragic fatal accident -it is the road or road conditions. After $ millions in upgrades the Malahat is still a dangerous road-for those who drive too fast. How will electronic signs change this?
Why should British Columbians accept that they are more likey to die on BC Roads than the average Canadian?
You just said:
Then what will be their effect?
There's nothing to say that those driving too fast don't read highway signs. Whether they respond appropriately may be a different matter. Every driver is making a judgment call in everything they do behind the wheel, based on the information they've absorbed; and so far, these judgments have been the right ones, apparently; they're still on the road!
Aside from that, just speaking personally, I read and respond to every highway sign, particularly on high elevation roads in winter conditions. I've been over the Malahat Summit at night, when the sound of the tires goes from slushy to silent, because that's where the road surface just got frozen.
We'll never know how many lives are saved by these new signs, but every one of them counts. Why on earth would you be in opposition to this bright idea?
You actually just made this claim?
And I quote,,,,,, " Every driver is making a judgment call in everything they do behind the wheel, based on the information they've absorbed; and so far, these judgments have been the right ones, apparently; they're still on the road!"
WOW, what a statement, I had to read that like 10 times, considering there are an average of 260,000 crashes per year from 2009 to 2013, an average of 79,000 injured in the same 5 years with 85,000 alone in 2013, and 267 average fatalities in those same 5 years.
That's 1,310,00 crashes in just 5 years, yes that's over a Million, 394,000 injured in 5 years and 1337 Fatalities, and as you just said, (these judgments have been the right ones???) I would hazard a wild guess that in fact many are still NOT on the road and also in fact their judgment is not only not right but actually so bad that very many shouldn't even hold a license to drive, well many don't anymore as they are dead or permanently injured.
I tend to agree with Phil, I hope we are wrong, but far too many ignore road signs, or just don't even see them, they are too busy making phone calls, hands free or not, they are still mostly blind to their surroundings, that's scientifically a proven fact, many just drive whatever speed they want and ignore the speed limit signs regardless if they actually do see them, so I doubt as well these signs will do much at all, otherwise why aren't the existing signs working, clearly they fail big time, more of that proof is the 163,200 speeding tickets handed out in 2015 alone, and that is just the small percentage that actually got caught, the vast majority of speeders continue on their way and never get caught until they crash, and as the stats prove, many do, and exactly why speed over distance cameras and more automated enforcement is needed to save lives on our hwy's.
Follow up on speeders
It's great idea for drivers like you, who follow the posted signage, but too many will continue to drive 10, 20, 30, 40 over the adjusted speed limit,as they do now.. Some drivers don't get it -the fact that there were 120,000 speeding tickets issued are clear evidence that too many are speeding on BC roads .Random radar campaigns on the Malahat and Cook Creek always find driver's speeding excessively. It seems that ICBC has not funded these campaigns for some time. Why? Is the money going into high tech road signs?
I support an educative approach -but to be effective, the electronic device needs to monitor driver speed and provide feedback to the driver. It could be a warning letter or 2 for a start, then penalties. Without follow up , the signage will likely only attract the attention of responsible drivers-the ones who don't get tickets or cause accidents.
enforcement of speed limits
The last RCMP IRU radar blitz on the Malahat was on March 19th -over 3 months ago. The early morning crowd speeding to work earned 73 speeding tickets including 23 for excessive speed.
Rather than investing in electronic signage, there needs to be an investment in speed monitoring devices to relieve police of this non -routine blitz activity. Speeders will continue to speed and take the chance on an occasional "radar trap". Electronoic signs will have littte impact on those who ignore the present speed limit signs.
Likely , Highway 19 will remain the 6th deadliest in BC.