# Introduction

Per the World Health Organization, “Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years.” The severity of pedestrian injuries/risk of fatalities in a front-on MVI (Motor Vehicle Incident) is largely dependent on speed: at 50kph the fatality rate is a shocking 80%; at 30kph the fatality rate decreases dramatically to 10%1.

Vision Zero2 a multi-national traffic safety initiative based on the philosophy that no one should be killed or seriously injured on the road is growing in popularity. One of the most effective and cheapest methods of road safety is reducing speed limits on local rural roads. Effective earlier this month, Duncan has set 30kph as the default speed limit unless otherwise signed, with connector roads at 40kph3

Is a change of the speed limit enough? Effective? After studies of jurisdictions that have done this show it is effective - a 17-20% reduction in injury crashes in downtown Seattle after they reduced speed limits by 5mph 4. US Department of Transport states "... a singular focus on speeding ignores the impact that even high, legal speeds can have on safety, since human injury tolerance can be exceeded even when drivers comply with the legal speed limit."5. Will people still speed? Almost certainly. But speeding 10k over the speed limit and doing 40kph is dramatically different risk level than doing 10 over and driving 60kph. Could other things be done? Absolutely. However, lowering and signing speed limits is the easiest and cheapest action yet is broadly shown to work.

# Park Heights Neighbourhood

We are a rural, residential neighbourhood of family homes. Children play here. Wildlife are often unpredictable and sometimes hazardous - with multiple fawn deaths most years due to MVIs. Road quality is variable with frequently poor sight lines and limited clear shoulders.

Many drivers who use Park Heights to access the East Sooke Regional Park are unfamiliar with the roads and sight lines. Many park visitors also walk along the road shoulder to access their hikes. All of these factors make our neighbourhood especially vulnerable to the kind of tragic accidents that can be reliably prevented by lower speed limits. 

The single access point to our neighbourhood means that sufficient signage could be likely be achieved with only a single sign - making this a very affordable change.

Reducing our current speed limit of 50kph to 30kph would only increase maximum travel times within the neighbourhood by an average of 2 minutes. Those 2 minutes, however, could dramatically increase safety for all road users, and especially for our neighbourhood’s children!

This would include: Park Heights Dr, Callisto Rd, Jupiter Pl, Titan Pl, and Leda Rd. 

Park Heights Neighbourhood showing longest possible drive

# Get Involved

Do you also support a safer local road for our neighbourhood? A quick and easy support method is to sign the petition. If you're willing to do a bit more work, write a letter to the relevant people - the more of your own voice you put into the letter the bigger impact since form letters are generally ranked lower. Letters will be held until the petition is submitted and then all current ones will be sent. After that any letters will be sent as they are received. 

Unlike within incorporated municipalities, roads in East Sooke are the responsibility of TranBC. We are also currently in the provincial riding of Langford - Juan de Fuca although that will change at the next provincial election (expected to be in October) when the planned electoral district changes take effect.

Who will this be going to? Currently the plan is to send the petition and any letters to the following three people.

  • Al Wickheim, Electoral Area Director for Juan de Fuca
  • Shawn Haley, Operations Manager, South Island Area, TranBC
  • Ravi Parmar, MLA, Langford - Juan de Fuca

Letters and Petition may be sent to additional contacts if it becomes necessary given the cross jurisdictional issues and upcoming riding change/election.

Note: Register/Log in to have most of the forms autofill both now and in the future - as well as track your involvement.

Sign the Petition

Full Petition Text

To Whom It May Concern,
CC: Al Wickheim, Electoral Area Director for Juan de Fuca
CC: Shawn Haley, Operations Manager, South Island Area, TranBC
CC: Ravi Parmar, MLA, Langford - Juan de Fuca

Introduction

Per the WHO, Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years. The severity of pedestrian injuries are largely dependent on the speed of collision: front on at 50kph the fatality rate is a shocking 80%; at 30kph the fatality rate decreases dramatically to 10%.(1)

Vision Zero(2), a multi-national traffic safety initiative based on the philosophy that no one should be killed or seriously injured on the road, and related iniatives to increase safety and reduce speed limits are growing in popularity. Earlier this year, Duncan set 30kph as the default speed limit within their community, with connector roads at 40kph(3).

Park Heights Neighbourhood

We are a rural, residential neighbourhood of family homes. Children play here. Wildlife are often unpredictable and sometimes hazardous - with multiple fawn deaths most years due to MVIs. Road quality is variable with frequently poor sight lines and limited clear shoulders.

Many drivers who use Park Heights to access the East Sooke Regional Park are unfamiliar with the roads and sight lines. Many park visitors also walk along the road shoulder to access their hikes. All of these factors make our neighbourhood especially vulnerable to the kind of tragic accidents that can be reliably prevented by lower speed limits. 

The single access point to our neighbourhood means that sufficient signage could be achieved with only a single sign - making this a very affordable change. Reducing our current speed limit of 50kph to 30kph would only increase maximum travel times within the neighbourhood by an average of 2 minutes. Those 2 minutes, however, could dramatically increase safety for all road users, and especially for our neighbourhood’s children!

Conclusion

We, the undersigned, request that TranBC lower the speed limit in our residential area to 30kph to increase safety for all road users, particularly children.

 

(1) SPEED MANAGEMENT – ISBN 92-821-0377-3 - ECMT, 2006

(2) https://www.visionzerobc.ca/

(3) https://bigconversations.duncan.ca/speedlimits

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  • 1

    SPEED MANAGEMENT – ISBN 92-821-0377-3 -  ECMT, 2006

  • 2

    What is Vision Zero, see also Vision Zero BC, 

  • 3

    Speed Limits Duncan

  • 4

    https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/lowering-speed-limits-makes-seattle-streets-safer

  • 5

    https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/Safe_System_Approach_for_Speed_Management.pdf