Safe speeds, big savings: slow pays off

In 2019, a group of concerned Winnipeggers came together to form Safe Speeds Winnipeg, a grassroots effort dedicated to making our streets safer by lowering the default speed limit in Winnipeg to 30 km/h.

One of our founding members, Dave Elmore, has written recently about how safer speeds make it easier and far more inviting for people, especially children, to move through their neighbourhoods with confidence.

As a parent, a teacher, and a community leader, I wholeheartedly agree that getting more kids walking and biking to school is one of the simplest, most meaningful ways we can support their mental and physical wellbeing. And it isn’t just children who benefit; pedestrian fatality rates rise sharply with age, and seniors 70 and older are the most at risk, underscoring how vital safer speeds are for all members of our community.

Last week, the City of Winnipeg released its long-awaited report on lowering speeds in our communities. It recommends establishing a default 40 km/h speed limit wherever no other speed limit is posted. While 40 km/h is still not truly a safe speed for residential streets, it represents an important step in the right direction.

Lowering speed limits isn’t just about safety; it is also a significant cost saver for Manitoba’s healthcare system. Speed is a major contributor to fatal and serious collisions, each of which places enormous strain on our publicly funded healthcare system.

Over the past decade, collisions have resulted in thousands of pedestrian injuries and well over a hundred deaths in our province, many requiring extensive care. At the Children’s Hospital, dozens of young pedestrians and cyclists are admitted each year with moderate to severe injuries, all requiring medical attention that our public system must absorb.

Preventing even one serious injury or death saves the healthcare system hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. In a publicly funded model like ours, preventing trauma is one of the most effective forms of cost control. Simply put, slowing down saves lives and saves Manitoba millions.

For the City of Winnipeg, reduced speed limits lead to substantial municipal savings, both direct and indirect.

Fewer and less severe crashes mean fewer calls for emergency response, fewer investigations, and less demand on city resources that must be deployed every time an incident occurs.

Lower speeds also reduce emissions and noise, easing wear on infrastructure, and improving neighborhood livability.

Small reductions in vehicle speed can add up across a large city like Winnipeg, extending the lifespan of roads and reducing maintenance requirements. Lower speeds reduce the force of pothole impacts, helping roads last longer and lowering the city’s maintenance costs.

Safer, calmer streets encourage more walking and cycling, which lowers vehicle dependence, supports better health, and eases pressure to maintain existing roads and build expensive new ones. In short, lower speeds help make Winnipeg safer, quieter, cleaner, and more cost-efficient.

Lower speed limits also help individual Winnipeggers save money at a time when transportation costs are rising sharply.

Global conflict and supply chain instability have driven up the cost of fuel, leaving many families struggling with unpredictable and often rising energy prices. Slowing down even slightly improves fuel efficiency, meaning drivers spend less each month on gas.

Lower speeds also reduce wear and tear on vehicles by easing strain on engines, brakes, and suspension systems. An important benefit when the cost of purchasing a vehicle has surged due to global shortages and manufacturing delays.

On top of these savings, calmer streets make it easier for people to choose more affordable transportation options. Walking, cycling, and transit become more appealing when streets feel safe, and shifting even a portion of household trips away from driving can significantly reduce overall transportation expenses. At a time when the cost of living is climbing, giving people safer alternatives to driving is one of the simplest and most effective ways people can keep more money in their pockets.

As this report winds its way through City Hall and eventually to our provincial government, we hope decisionmakers consider not just the safety benefits, but also the economic ones. Lower speed limits protect our most vulnerable road users, but they also reduce pressure on our healthcare system, cut municipal spending, and save families’ money.

As life gets more expensive for everyone, making our streets safer is a cost-effective and commonsense way to support both public wellbeing and the financial health of our province. Sometimes the simplest solutions really do make the biggest difference, and slowing down is one of them.

Ian Walker is a parent, a grade 1 and 2 teacher, and a trustee representing Ward 1 of the Louis Riel School Division.