A group of councillors has voted to reduce the speed limit on residential roads in East York and downtown Toronto from 40 kilometres per hours to 30 km/h.
Council voted unanimously for the reduction at a special meeting to debate the proposal on Monday night. Councillors say the change could be implemented as early as September.
Twelve wards in East York and downtown Toronto will see speed limits reduced, while limits in York, North York, Etobicoke or Scarborough will be unaffected. The move is expected to cost the city approximately $1 million.
The idea was initially put forward by Coun. Josh Matlow, who suggested lowering the speed limit in residential areas last August, after a 7-year-old girl was fatally struck by a vehicle in Leaside.
Matlow has pointed to a 2012 report authored by Toronto Public Health, which suggested pedestrians are eight times more likely to die as a result of a collision involving a vehicle going 50 km/h compared to those involving vehicles moving at 30 km/h.
Studies suggest that if hit by a car travelling 30 km/h, a pedestrian has a 90 per cent survival rate. That rate drops to 50 per cent if hit by a car travelling at 45 km/h.
City staff cautioned against the plan however, saying it might not be “realistic” to assume that motorists will slow down.
Mayor John Tory has also expressed concern, saying speed limit reductions should be targeted neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
