The Alberta government's proposal to increase speed limits on divided highways is sparking significant debate about road safety and practical consequences for one of the province's busiest corridors.
Speed Limit Increase Proposal
Premier Danielle Smith will chair a panel considering raising speed limits on divided highways to 120 km/h, with plans to preemptively test this change on select highways. This initiative, announced in November 2025, represents one of the most substantial potential changes to Alberta's traffic regulations in recent years.
Real-World Speed Implications
Critics argue that establishing a 120 km/h limit would effectively create a minimum speed expectation, with actual traffic flows typically exceeding posted limits by 10 to 20 km/h. This pattern suggests that speeds could regularly reach 130 to 140 km/h on highways like the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII), creating potentially dangerous speed differentials with commercial truck traffic operating at significantly lower speeds.
The concern is particularly acute for the QEII Highway, a critical transportation artery connecting Edmonton and Calgary where varying vehicle speeds already present challenges. The proposed changes could exacerbate these existing safety issues while representing what some critics call an unnecessary expenditure of taxpayer funds.
Broader Policy Context
The speed limit discussion occurs alongside other contentious policy debates in Alberta. Critics have simultaneously raised concerns about the provincial government's approach to environmental issues, noting that Alberta is pursuing increased oil production despite global climate conferences and Canada's status as the only G7 country that hasn't achieved emissions reductions since 1990.
Additional controversies include perceived challenges to judicial independence through the use of the notwithstanding clause and environmental deregulation for silica sand mining. These parallel debates reflect broader tensions between economic development, environmental protection, and governance approaches in the province.
As the speed limit proposal moves forward, Albertans are left to consider whether higher limits represent progress or peril for the province's highway system.
