Variable speed limits to warn of adverse weather on British Columbia highways

Variable speed signs are being installed on sections of the Coquihalla, Trans-Canada and Sea to Sky highways in Canada, as part of a US$9.4 million pilot project to help reduce the frequency of weather-related crashes.
December 3, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

Variable speed signs are being installed on sections of the Coquihalla, Trans-Canada and Sea to Sky highways in Canada, as part of a US$9.4 million pilot project to help reduce the frequency of weather-related crashes.

As part of its US$19 million per year Roadside Safety Program, the Ministry of Transport is installing 18 digital variable speed signs along the highways; overhead message signs at the entrance of each corridor will inform drivers that they are entering a variable speed zone, and to be aware of changing weather conditions. The speed limit will be changed to reflect driving conditions.

An extensive system of traffic, road and visibility sensors will be calibrated to detect the conditions and provide a recommended speed to operations staff. This information will be used to continuously update the speed shown on digital signs, to help drivers adjust their driving speed during adverse weather conditions.

The system will be tested for two to three months before going live, which is expected to be in early 2016.

“As a part of our Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review, we looked at how we could help reduce crashes related to bad weather conditions. One of the ideas was to introduce new digital variable speed limit signs, in areas where the weather can change quickly and sometimes catch drivers off guard,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone. “The electronic signs will adjust the speed limit to let drivers know what speed they should be travelling during winter weather conditions, to help them reach their destination safe and sound.”

Air Quality & Weather Systems

Related Content

  • Proposed system to take guesswork out of choosing a freeway lane
    March 17, 2014
    A fledgling advanced lane management assist system can take the guesswork out of selecting the right lane on a congested freeway, as its inventor Robert Gordon explains. As drivers we’ve all done it and control room staff see it all the time – motorists on congested freeways switching into what they perceive is a faster lane, only to come to a halt a few moments later and watch vehicles in the other lanes continue to move past. Now, by re-analysing readily available data in an advanced lane management as
    Read More
  • Near-fit technology can provide the solution - just ask the question.
    August 19, 2015
    When a company launches a product it never quite knows how that product will be used and what else it may be required to do. Lufft’s mobile weather sensor MARWIS is a prime example. Last winter Lufft introduced MARWIS, its mobile road weather sensor, handing it initially to long-term sales partners to test and improve. What was known was the sensor’s fast reaction rate (up to 100 Hertz), combined with its wide range of measurement information, and would provide users with a gapless overview of the road stat
    Read More
  • Connected vehicle trials get big backing from USDOT
    March 14, 2016
    Connected vehicle technology will emerge as a sustainable reality at three sites in the US over the next four years. Jon Masters reports. Advocates of connected vehicle (CV) technology have received a welcome boost from news that the US government has committed a further $4 billion towards automated vehicle research and CV technology. This comes hot on the heels of the US Department of Transportation’s $42 million CV pilot pledge in October last year.
    Read More
  • Assessing driver behaviour in work zones
    May 31, 2013
    David Crawford looks at moves to increase throughput and safety in work zones.
    Read More

Highlighted Content