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

  • Monitoring and transparency preserve enforcement's reputation
    July 30, 2012
    What can be done to preserve automated enforcement's reputation in the face of media and public criticism? Here, system manufacturers and suppliers talk about what they think are the most appropriate business models. Recent events in Italy only served to once again to push automated enforcement into the media spotlight. At the heart of the matter were the numerous alleged instances of local authorities and their contract suppliers of enforcement services colluding to illegally shorten amber signal phase tim
  • Countering truckers’ parking conundrum
    May 3, 2017
    Colin Sowman hears about a new truck parking information system being piloted across eight states. Legislation limits truck drivers’ hours with the result that they are often caught in a situation where they need to stop either for a break or an overnight rest. But as truck parking is in short supply, truck drivers spend an average of 56 minutes a day searching for available spaces and are often faced with the choice of driving beyond their permitted hours or parking illegally.
  • Traffic management to the fore at Vision 2014
    December 8, 2014
    Colin Sowman reviews some of the traffic-related exhibits at the 2014 Vision Show in Stuttgart. Traffic was a major theme at this years’ Vision Show in Stuttgart and several manufacturers used the exhibition to highlight their traffic-related equipment and applications.
  • East Africa uses cargo tracking to foils criminals and collect tax
    June 10, 2015
    Shem Oirere looks at the beneficial effect of cargo tracking. The mandatory installation of electronic cargo tracking and security (ECTS) systems in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda has helped enhance revenue collection, enforce cargo handling requirements, improved the business environment of the respective countries’ trade routes and helped cargo hauliers cut costs. This is being spearheaded by the state-owned tax collection agencies and the improved custom duty collection has not only enabled a reduction of im