Alberta Government Proposes Raising Highway Speed Limits to 120 km/h
Alberta’s provincial government is evaluating a proposal to raise speed limits on rural highways to 120 km/h. This would mark an increase of 10 km/h from the current limit of 110 km/h, particularly affecting routes such as the QE2.
Public Engagement Through Online Survey
To gauge public opinion, the government has launched an online survey available until December 12. This initiative aims to gather input from Albertans regarding:
- Prioritization of highways for increased speed limits
- Restrictions on commercial trucks in the far-left lane
- Suggestions for enhancing the overall driving experience
Government Rationale for the Proposal
Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister, Devin Dreeshen, stated that the proposed speed limit increase is intended to align driving speeds with the original design specifications of the highways. He noted that modern vehicles and heightened public awareness support this adjustment.
Premier Danielle Smith supported this reasoning during a press conference in Calgary. She emphasized that current speed limits might not reflect the capabilities of the roads constructed for higher speeds. “If the QE2 has been built and rated for 120 km/h, why aren’t we letting people drive 120 km/h?” she remarked.
Current Speed Limits in Alberta
Currently, speed limits on divided highways in Alberta range from 100 to 110 km/h. However, limits can drop as low as 50 km/h in areas with higher traffic densities, such as:
- First Nation lands
- Cities
- Municipalities
Recent Changes to Traffic Enforcement
In April, the Alberta government made significant changes to traffic enforcement, eliminating photo radar on provincial highways with exceptions for school, playground, and construction zones. This reduced the number of locations where photo radar could be deployed by about 70%. Additionally, the use of “speed on green” cameras has been restricted solely to red light enforcement.
