The City is lowering speed limits to help everyone move around safely. Reducing speed limits is a cost-effective way to improve safety and leads to measurable declines in crashes and crash-related fatalities.
Slower speeds contribute to quieter, more livable neighbourhoods and help reduce the number and impact of crashes. When drivers travel at slower speeds, they have more time to observe their surroundings and respond to road conditions and other users.
Slower speeds are one of several strategies the City is using to achieve Vision Zero: The elimination of traffic fatalities and serious injuries on roadways. Vision Zero is an internationally recognized road safety approach and is included in Go Victoria, the City’s sustainable mobility strategy.
40 km/h on Major Streets
In 2026, the City will reduce speed limits on most major streets from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. Speed limits on a select number of major streets will be reduced to 30 km/h.
Major streets typically have a centre line and connect people to different parts of the city. They generally have higher traffic volumes and higher speed limits than local roads. Some of the streets being updated to 40 km/h include: Fairfield Road, Esquimalt Road, Hillside Avenue and Finlayson Street.
Blanshard and Douglas Street (north of Caledonia) will remain 50 km/h and are not part of the city-wide speed limit update.
30 km/h on Local Streets
New, lower speed limits on local streets were completed in December 2025. Local streets are typically found in residential areas, do not have a centre line and are used by fewer than 1,000 vehicles per day.
