Setting Speed Limits

The Provincial Highway Traffic Act, 1996 identifies the minimum legal speed limit of 50 km/hr on urban and residential streets. As well, the speed limit in all Regina school zones is 40 km/hr.

The authority to change the legal speed limit on Regina roads rests with City Council; however, the Administration makes recommendations on appropriate speed limits which are based on dry pavement conditions. (All motorists are expected to reduce their speed in adverse weather conditions.)

Determining a road’s speed limit

Calculating a recommended speed limit for a particular street is influenced by:

• roadway geometry
• adjacent land use
• traffic volumes
• accident history
• established North American traffic engineering procedures

In North America, the procedure to establish an appropriate speed limit is based on the “85th percentile speed” principle. This means the speed limit will be set as near as practical to the speed at which 85% of vehicles are travelling along that road.

Experience across North America has shown that 85% of drivers will operate their vehicle at a speed that is reasonable and prudent.