Speed Limits

Saanich has adopted Vision Zero as our approach to road safety. This strategy aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries while providing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all road users.  

Vision Zero means looking closely at how our roads are designed, how fast people drive, and what changes can make streets safer for all. Higher speeds increase the risk of crashes and serious injuries. That’s why we regularly review speed limits on key streets across Saanich and lower them where needed. These changes help create calmer streets and reduce the chance of serious crashes, especially for people most at risk.

How speed limits are set

In British Columbia, the default speed limit on municipal streets is 50 km/h, as set by the BC Motor Vehicle Act. Saanich Council can set lower speed limits through local bylaws and signs, using the Speed Limit Establishment Policy as a guide. Adopted by Council in July 2022, this policy helps us decide where speed limits should be lowered to make our roads safer.

Street type plays a key role in setting speed limits in Saanich:

• Type A streets:These streets do not have a continuous yellow centre line or are identified as Neighbourhood Bikeways in the Active Transportation Plan.
  The maximum speed on these streets is 30 km/h.

• Type B streets:These streets have a continuous yellow centre line or are not classified as Type A.
  Speed limits for these streets are set based on the findings of a Safe Speed Study.

How speed limit changes happen

A lower speed limit takes effect once Council approves changes to the Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw and new speed limit signs are installed. Changes are made in phases, with the goal of balancing safety improvements across both corridors and residential neighbourhoods.

You can always view the latest speed limits on our updated speed limits map and in Schedule B of our Streets and Traffic Regulation bylaw.

Updates on speed limit implementation

In August 2025, Council approved updates to the Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw for Phase Three of the speed limit reduction program. We are working on the implementation of new speed limit signs, some of which have already been installed, and aim to complete Phase Three mid-2026.

What's Next: Phase four will continue the work we have completed in the previous phases and will include additional road segments and neighbourhoods. Our next step will be taking a report to Council in 2026 with implementation to follow once it is adopted.

Where speed limit changes are happening

Speed limit changes are rolling out in phases, starting with areas where lower speeds will have the greatest impact. Speed limit changes are enforceable once new signs are installed and the bylaw is updated.

Phase One: Corridors with reduced speed limits
In our initial phase, we focused on the following nine priority corridors, laying the groundwork for future initiatives.

To learn more about how speed limits are set and changed in Saanich, see:

• Speed Limit Establishment Policy
• Council Report – July 4, 2022
• Council Report – February 16, 2022