Winnipeggers ‘deadlocked’ on reducing speed limit, but opposition stronger than support: survey

Winnipeggers are almost evenly split about lowering the city’s default speed limit to 40 km/h, according to a new Probe Research poll.

A new survey finds a narrow majority of Winnipeggers oppose lowering the city’s default speed limit, a move city council is set to vote on later this week.

On Monday, Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) released the results of the poll he commissioned and Probe Research conducted.

“I’m just trying to prove with this poll that the majority of Winnipeggers are not with them,” Browaty said.

The new survey found 53 per cent of respondents opposed lowering the default speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 km/h, while 47 per cent were in favour of the change.

Another 38 per cent strongly opposed the reduction and 22 per cent were strongly in support, the survey found.

“Winnipeggers are deadlocked on whether to reduce speed limits on residential streets – but opposition is stronger than support,” the Probe Research report said.

Breaking the data down by region, Probe Research found northwest Winnipeg residents were most likely to oppose lowering speed limits. About 59 per cent of men were opposed compared to 40 per cent of women respondents.

Fifty-five per cent of young adults between 18 and 34 years old were similarly against the move, as were 61 per cent of respondents who identified as Progressive Conservative voters, compared to 44 per cent among NDP supporters.

Conversely, the majority of respondents who live in the southwest and Winnipeg’s core were most likely to agree with dropping the default speed limit, with 56 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively, in favour.

The majority of university graduates polled, at 55 per cent, approved of the change, compared to 46 per cent of respondents who have a high school education or less.

Probe Research surveyed a random and representative sample of 600 Winnipeg residents between March 1 and 17. The results come with 95 per cent certainty that the results are within plus or minus 4.0 percentage points of what they would have been if the entire adult Winnipeg population had been surveyed, the pollster said.

The margin of error is higher within each of the survey’s population subgroups.

Speed limit motion spurred by 2023 pilot project

The default speed limit drop was recommended by the city’s public service in a push to increase road safety.

A report detailing the recommendation estimated fatal collisions could drop by 10 to 20 per cent, and crashes that cause major injuries could drop by six to 12 per cent.

Pilot projects test driving the change were rolled out in March 2023 in four neighbourhoods – Richmond West, Worthington, Bourkevale and Tyndall Park South.

Results showed drivers dropped their speeds in all neighbourhoods but Richmond West.

A survey of residents in those areas found four in 10 wanted the speed limit to stay the same, four in 10 wanted the limit to drop to 40 km/h, and two in 10 wanted it to be lowered to 30 km/h.

The results of the project led to the current recommendation.

City council is set to vote on a motion Thursday, which asks the province to amend legislation and grant Winnipeg the authority to lower the default limit.

Browaty argues dropping the default speed limit would green light only an expensive, artificial change that would have little impact on safety.

“The challenge is, the majority of collisions on our streets that involve any type of injuries are not on these local, residential streets or even on collector streets in residential neighbourhoods,” he said.

He called on Winnipeggers who oppose the move to get in touch with their city councillors to voice their concerns.

- With files from CTV’s Devon McKendrick