A B.C.-wide public consultation that will include a forum in Prince George has begun as part of a review of safety and speed limits along the province's rural highways .
The last review was carried out in 2003 and since then "our roads have improved greatly," as have the "safety of the vehicles we are all driving," Transportation Minister Todd Stone said Friday.
"These factors warrant us taking a look at speed limits along longer stretches of rural highways between communities and at other factors that affect safety on our provincial highways."
Stone later indicated speed limit increases are not yet a done deal.
"As I've said in the past, this review isn't about increasing speed limits, it's about ensuring we have the right speed limits on our provincial highways," he said.
However, he also made reference to a U.S. study that showed collisions have actually decreased as speeds have increased.
"And that all stems from the fact that it's not speed in and of itself which kills, it's variations in speed," Stone said. "Ensuring that those who are driving are keeping up with the 85th percentile in the corridor is really what is important from the safety perspective."
He also noted $14 billion have been committed to improving B.C. highways over the last 10 years, adding kilometres of four-laned highway and passing sections.
The review will also look at slow-moving vehicles, wildlife collisions and the use of winter tires.
On the last point, Stone said there is confusion at this time every year as to whether full-blown winter tires with the mountain and snowflake symbol should be mounted or whether mud and snow tires, with the M and S marking, are good enough for the region motorists are driving in.
"More than 60 per cent of drivers in this province travel where snow is very rare," Stone said. "So making winter tires mandatory throughout all of B.C. does not make sense.
"However, there are 80 sections of highway where winter tires are mandatory from October 1 to April 30. We want to know if British Columbians agree that winter tires should be mandatory for those specific months."
A discussion guide is now available online at www.gov.bc.ca/safetyandspeedreview/. The feedback portion of the guide has been broken into seven regions covering 52 segments.
"For each segment, you can provide feedback on speed limits and how often you find wildlife and slower-moving vehicles to be a safety concern," Stone said.
A technical analysis by the ministry is underway, and public opinion will act as an "overlay" on that analysis, Stone said.
NDP transportation critic Claire Trevena said it's time for another review given it's been 10 years since the last one and added it's important the public participate as well as other stakeholders.
But she also noted the review was first announced in September and that the consultation was launched not long after Stone announced cuts to B.C. Ferries.
They include a 30-per-cent reduction of service along the Inside Passage and between Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii routes effective April 2014. Trevena said tourism operators along an inland circle route that connects to the services are "furious."
"I have a sense he may be trying to deflect a bit of anger here," Trevena said.
The forum in Prince George is set for Tues., Jan. 7 at the Ramada, 444 George St., from 5-8 p.m. It's one of eight forums to be held across the province.
There will also be a Twitter town hall at #BCSpeedReview on Tues., Dec. 17, from 7-8 p.m.
Comments can be submitted online at www.gov.bc.ca/safetyandspeedreview/.
The consultation lasts until Fri., Jan. 24.
