Lowered highway speed limit isn't alleviating safety concerns

[caption id="attachment_21631" align="alignright" width="300"] Rocky View County would like to see the 80 km/h stretch of Highway 1 east of the city ending at Highway 791 returned to 110km/h limit. Photo by Jeremy Broadfield[/caption]

Rocky View County (RVC) has requested that he province return the speed limit on Highway 1 East of Chestermere to Highway 791 back to 110 km/h.

"We have been hearing from residents that the lower speed of 80 [km/h] is actually creating a little bit more danger in terms of people not following the speed limit," said RVC General Manager Byron Riemann.

Although the corridor of highway has previously been known to be collision prone, RVC has asked for a highway safety study.

The study would ensure that the changed speed limit of 110 km/h to 80 km/h in 2017 has helped to improve safety and driving conditions on the previously problematic roadway.

The speed limit was changed last year after a fatal collision took place in 2015 involving a Chestermere resident.

"There are no plans to increase the speed limit at this time," said Communications Advisor of Alberta Transportation Wayne Wood.

"It's part of the commitment that we made when we lowered the speed limit," Wood added.

The province is planning to conduct a speed study later this year.

The study will record speeds through the collision prone stretch of highway to determine whether the current speed limit is appropriate or not, Wood said.

However, no additional information will be released regarding the speed study, Wood added, drivers won't know when the study is being conducted, or for how long.

"We certainly don't have any plans at this time to increase the speed limit," he said.

Riemann added that, there have been instances where drivers are following the posted speed limit, but have been approached by vehicles who are still traveling at 110 km/h.

"Not following the speed limit leads to different situations in terms of potential rear ends, passing illegally, or just dangerous driving situations," Riemann said.