ADVOCACY
Get Back in the Habit:
Drive the Speed Limit
Following the limits means safer streets for all.
By Elisa Keay
One of the biggest factors impacting road safety is speed. Speeding — even a little — puts everyone at risk. Sticking to the limits saves lives. The 2023 Alberta Traffic Collision Report revealed that speed was a factor in nearly 25 percent of all road fatalities. The reality is, speed is a significant issue on our streets and highways. By getting back into the habit of obeying posted speed limits, we can significantly improve road safety.
Urban centres have been experiencing a significant rise in collisions and fatalities due to speeding. | PHOTO: JEFF WHYTE PHOTOGRAPH/WIRESTOCK CREATORS/ADOBE STOCK
Speed in urban centres
Concerns are high in Calgary and Edmonton, where fatalities and collisions due to speed have been rising significantly, as illustrated by the statistics in the Calgary Safer Mobility Plan’s 2025 annual report. Compared with the averages from 2021 to 2023, fatal collisions increased by 53 percent in 2024, while pedestrian fatalities increased by 160 percent.
In Edmonton, there were 24 fatalities in 2023 and 26 in 2024, while 2025 numbers spiked to 32 fatalities. The Edmonton Police Service noted that by August of 2025, half of fatal collisions had involved excessive speed as a factor, doubling the average reported in the 2023 Alberta Traffic Collision Report.
“Going just 10 km/h over the speed limit may not seem like much, but it doubles your risk of a crash.”
When driving conditions are poor, slowing down is key. Speed limits are maximums, but not the minimum. | PHOTO: HENRYK SEDURA/ADOBE STOCK
Setting speed limits
Limits are set based on traffic flow, community concerns and road engineering. On roadways where it is safe to do so, such as highways, speed limits are set higher. Where there are vulnerabilities, such as pedestrians or children in a school zone, speed limits are set lower. Considering how the roads are used and by whom helps the province and municipalities set appropriate speed limits. While drivers may not understand the importance of following the speed limit, the potential for a collision is greatly increased by speeding. “Going just 10 km/h over the speed limit may not seem like much, but it doubles your risk of a crash,” says Hannah Hamilton, AMA’s advocacy program manager. “And, if you go 20 km/h over the limit, that becomes six times the risk.”
With speed, drivers have less time to notice and respond to vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. Higher speeds also mean longer stopping distances. Any decrease in a driver’s margin for error raises the risk of a collision.
Slowing down in bad weather
Limits are set for optimal conditions. They’re the maximum, but not the minimum, and they’re not an indication that travelling at that speed will always be safe. It’s essential to adjust your speed when travelling in less-than-ideal conditions. Whether you’re driving in rain, fog, sleet or snow, reduce your speed to account for weather that may impair your visibility or lengthen your stopping time.
We all want safer streets. AMA is calling on drivers to slow down and follow the speed limits. It’s a simple habit that can have a huge impact. By getting back into the habit of easing up on the accelerator and following posted speed limits, you can help make the roads safer for everyone on them. AMA