To help everyone get where they are going safely, the City of Victoria is reducing speed limits on all local streets from 50 kilometres per hour to 30 kilometres per hour. Slower speeds help reduce the frequency and severity of crashes and contribute to quieter, more livable neighbourhoods.
New 30 km/h signs will be added to local streets as the bylaw takes effect over an approximately two-year period, starting in the Hillside Quadra neighbourhood this spring. The lower speed limit will then be introduced in Burnside Gorge this fall followed by Oaklands in the winter.
Local streets are those that are typically in residential areas, do not have a centre line and are used by fewer than 1,000 vehicles per day. The change will not affect major roads like Hillside Avenue, Bay Street and Cook Street.
Safe speeds are identified in both the provincial and national road safety frameworks, the BC Road Safety Strategy 2025 and Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025. The change follows a bylaw amendment approved by Council in 2022. Residents in Hillside Quadra are being notified in advance of the signs being installed and the speed limit change.
Residents can help spread the word about safe speeds with promotional lawn signs and window decals as part of the City’s We Go Slow awareness campaign.