Speed limits in Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Canadian speed limits are set by different levels of government (federal, provincial, and municipal), depending on the jurisdiction under which the road falls, resulting in differences from province to province.[1] The limits have been posted in kilometres per hour (km/h) since September 1, 1977. Before then, when Canada used Imperial units, speed limits were in miles per hour (mph).
Statutory speed limits are default speed limits set by statute in each province or territory. They apply on roads which do not have posted speed limits.
In most provinces and territories, statutory speed limits are 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban areas, 80 km/h (50 mph) in rural areas.[2][3][4] There is no statutory speed limit for grade-separated freeways; however the typical speed limit in most provinces is 100 km/h (62 mph) or 110 km/h (68 mph). Statutory speed limits for school zones tend to be 30 or 40 km/h (19 or 25 mph) in urban areas and 50 km/h (31 mph) in rural areas.[5] The highest posted speed limit in the country is 120 km/h (75 mph) and can be found on the [[Coquihalla Highway]and a 22 km (13 mile) stertch of Highway 2 south of Leduc, Alberta].[6][7]
"N/A" means there is no such roadway in the province or territory. This table contains the statutory maximum speed limits, in kilometres per hour, on roads in each category.
| Province/territory | Freeway (rural) | Freeway (urban) | Divided highway (rural) | Undivided (rural) | Urban |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Alberta | 120 km/h (75 mph) for rural divided highways/freeways. 100 km/h (62 mph) for provincial highways (numbered highways) outside urban areas 80 km/h (50 mph) for unnumbered highways outside urban areas and numbered highways inside urban areas[8] | 50 km/h (31 mph) | |||
 British Columbia | 110 km/h (68 mph) except 120 km/h (75 mph) Coquihalla Highway 5 | 90 km/h (56 mph) | 90 km/h (56 mph) to 100 km/h (62 mph) | 80 km/h (50 mph) to 100 km/h (62 mph) [9] | 50 km/h (31 mph) [9] |
 Manitoba | 90 km/h (56 mph)[10] | 50 km/h (31 mph)[10] | 90 km/h (56 mph)[10] | 90 km/h (56 mph)[10] | 50 km/h (31 mph)[10] |
 New Brunswick | |||||
 Newfoundland and Labrador | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 80 km/h (50 mph) | 50 km/h (31 mph) |
 Northwest Territories | |||||
 Nova Scotia | |||||
 Nunavut | N/A | 90 km/h (56 mph) | 50 km/h (31 mph) | ||
 Ontario | 110 km/h (68 mph)[4] | 100 km/h (62 mph)[4] | 80 km/h (50 mph)[4] | 80 km/h (50 mph)[4] | 50 km/h (31 mph)[4] |
 Prince Edward Island | N/A | ||||
 Québec[11] | 100 km/h (62mph) | 70 km/h (43 mph) | 90 km/h (56 mph) | 70–90 km/h (43–56 mph) | 50 km/h (31 mph) |
 Saskatchewan | 90-110 km/h (56-68 mph) | 90-110 km/h (56-68 mph) | 90-110 km/h (56-68 mph) | 80 km/h (50 mph) | 50 km/h (31 mph) |
 Yukon | N/A | ||||
Posted speed limits
Posted speed limits may differ significantly from the statutory speed limit. For example, in Alberta, Highway 1A has a statutory maximum speed limit of 100 km/h but a posted speed limit of 30 km/h near 51°10′11″N 115°39′31″W / 51.169832°N 115.658684°W.
The highest speed limit in Canada is found on British Columbia's Coquihalla Highway with a speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph).[12] Formerly, British Columbia's Okanagan Connector and Highway 19 also possessed 120 km/h limits, but were reduced to 110 km/h in 2018 to address an increase in collisions, based on insufficient data that did not accurately reflect a change due to unrelated incidents such as snowstorms significantly effecting the data.[13][14][15]
This table contains typical daytime speed limits, in kilometres per hour, on typical roads in each category. The values shown are not necessarily the fastest or slowest posted limit.
| Province/Territory | Freeway (rural) | Freeway (urban) | Divided Highway (rural) | Undivided (rural) | Urban |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 90-120 | 50 - 100 | 80 - 110 | 60 - 100 | 50 |
| British Columbia | 100 - 120 | 60 - 100 | 80 - 110 | 60 - 100 | 50 |
| Manitoba | N/A | 100 | 100 - 110 | 100 | 50 |
| New Brunswick | 110 | 100 - 110 | 110 | 80 - 100 | 50 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 100 | 80 - 100 | 100 | 80 - 100 | 50 |
| Northwest Territories | N/A | 100 | 45 | ||
| Nova Scotia | 100 - 110 | 100 | 100 - 110 | 80 - 100 | 50 |
| Nunavut | N/A | 50 | 30 | ||
| Ontario | 100 - 110 | 80 - 110 | 90 - 110 | 80 - 90 | 40 - 50 |
| Prince Edward Island | N/A | 80 - 90 | 50 | ||
| Saskatchewan | 110 | 90 - 100 | 100 - 110 | 100 | 50 |
| Québec | 100 | 70 - 100 | 100 | 80 - 90 | 50 |
| Yukon | N/A | 70 | 100 | 50 | |
Regulations
Community safety zones and automated speed enforcement
In Ontario, speeding fines are doubled in areas identified as "Community Safety Zones". On November 14, 2025, the section of the Highway Traffic Act that permitted automated speed enforcement was struck.[16][17] Instead, the government launched a $210 million road safety initiatives fund for municipalities to implement traffic calming measures.[18][19]
Construction zones
In most Canadian provinces, as in most other locales, speed violation fines are double (or more) in construction zones, although in Ontario and Alberta, this only applies if workers are present in the construction zone.
Racing, contests and stunt driving
In Ontario, as of September 2007, drivers caught exceeding the posted speed limit by 50 km/h or more may have the vehicle that they are driving impounded immediately for seven days, have their licence suspended for seven days, and have to appear before the court. For a first conviction, they face an additional $2,000–$10,000 fine and six demerit points; they may also face up to six months in jail and licence suspension of up to two years. For a second conviction within 10 years of the first conviction, their licence may be suspended for up to 10 years.[20]
Truck speed limiters
Since 2009 in both Ontario[21] and Québec,[22] trucks must be equipped with devices to electronically limit their speed to 105 km/h (65 mph). In 2012, an Ontario court ruled that the law violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, however the law was upheld by the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2015.[23] In April 2024, 105 km/h speed limiters also became mandatory for commercial trucks in British Columbia.[24]
Radar detectors
Radar detectors in Canada are legal only in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. They are illegal to use or possess in the other provinces and all three territories. Regardless of whether they are used or not, police and law enforcement officers may confiscate radar detectors, operational or not, and impose substantial fines in provinces where radar detectors are illegal.[25] Quebec penalizes $500 for use of a radar detector, along with confiscation of the device.[26]
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