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Speed limits on Sea to Sky Highway decreasing

Province announced its cutting back on the need for speed
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Things are about to get a bit slower on the Sea to Sky Highway.

The province announced on Nov. 6 that it would be rolling back speed limits in several stretches of Highway 99.

Speed limits will drop by 10 kilometres per hour from Horseshoe bay all the way up to Pemberton.

Specifically, the new limits are as follows:

Highway 99: Horseshoe Bay to Squamish-90 km/h down to 80 km/h

Highway 99: Squamish to Whistler-100 km/h to 90 km/h

Highway 99: Whistler to Pemberton-90 km/h to 80 km/h

"We know people want to get where they're going quickly. Our job is to help make sure they also get there safely," said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure in a news release on Nov. 6.

"Since the former government raised speed limits in 2014, serious crashes have been on the rise. By rolling back speed limits slightly, our goal is to reduce accidents, keep roads open and protect the lives of British Columbians."

Speed limit changes were made after the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure reviewed three years' worth of data on 33 segments and 1,300 kilometres of highway, where speed limits were increased as part of the 2014 Rural Safety and Speed Review, the release said.

As a result, 15 sections of highway, totalling 570 kilometres, will have speed limits rolled back by 10 km/h.

Along with the two corridors that were lowered in 2016, this represents 660 kilometres of B.C. highways where speed limits are being rolled back.

Routes that did not show higher accident rates will keep their speed limits, including the Coquihalla where variable speed limits are in operation.

"Speeding has been one of the top three factors contributing to car crashes, especially in rural and remote areas of B.C.," said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer in the news release.

"Research has shown that reducing speed lowers the number of crashes and severity of injuries, so I am very supportive of the speed limit reductions announced today. I look forward to the safety measures that will be implemented on B.C. roads, and will continue to work with the Road Safety Strategy Steering Committee to advocate for initiatives that will help keep all road users in B.C. healthy and safe."