Skip to main content

Variable speed limit signs deployed in Canada

The British Columbia government in Canada has deployed variable speed limit signs along three highways in the province, Highway 99, Highway 5, and Highway 1, which are prone to rapidly changing weather..Variable speed limit signs display the legal speed limit when road and weather conditions change. From 2 June, motorists are required to obey the signs, which are regulatory and enforced by the police. Static message signs at the entrance to each corridor inform travellers they are entering a variable
June 10, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The British Columbia government in Canada has deployed variable speed limit signs along three highways in the province, Highway 99, Highway 5,  and Highway 1, which are prone to rapidly changing weather..Variable speed limit signs display the legal speed limit when road and weather conditions change.

From 2 June, motorists are required to obey the signs, which are regulatory and enforced by the police.

Static message signs at the entrance to each corridor inform travellers they are entering a variable speed zone. A digital message sign (DMS) at the beginning of each corridor warns drivers of changing weather conditions. Flashing lights installed above each variable speed limit sign are activated when a reduced speed limit is in effect.

Traffic, road and visibility sensors monitor real-time traffic speeds as well as road and weather conditions to provide recommended reduced speeds back to operations staff who then adjust the electronic signs to let drivers know what speed they should be travelling for the current conditions.

Webcams installed along each of the routes monitor traffic and weather conditions to provide drivers and operators at the Regional Transportation Management with real time information on conditions along the routes.

Related Content

  • Transport Scotland opts for Vysionics average speed enforcement
    April 23, 2014
    Traffic control specialist Vysionics ITS has won a deal to deliver Europe’s longest average speed enforcement system. This will be installed on a 220km stretch of the A9 in Scotland. The installation will be the first time average speed cameras will have been used on such a long stretch of road on a permanent basis, rather than for short term use during road repairs. The current road configuration is a mixture of single and dual carriageway which carries a high proportion of HGV traffic. Part of the lon
  • Idaho adds human dimension to winter savings
    September 23, 2014
    Idaho leverages the increased capability and reliability of its road weather sensor network to reduce costs and prevent accidents. Weather-related accidents can form a significant chunk of an authorities’ annual road casualty statistics. While authorities cannot control the weather, the technology exists to monitor the road conditions and react with warnings to motorists and the treatment of icy or snow-covered roads. However, with all capital expenditure now placed under the microscope of public scrutiny,
  • Keeping over-height and overheating vehicles out of tunnels
    October 7, 2013
    A review of pre-warning solutions for problematic commercial vehicles approaching tunnels
  • New York unveils ‘Midtown in Motion’ traffic management system
    April 19, 2012
    New York Mayor Bloomberg has unveiled a new, technology-based traffic management system that allows city traffic engineers to monitor and respond to Midtown Manhattan traffic conditions in real time, improving traffic flow on the city’s most congested streets.