The Alberta government is preparing to test higher speed limits on some of the province's major roadways. A controlled trial will see the maximum speed increased to 120 kilometres per hour on select rural divided highways, starting in the new year.
Strong Public Backing for Higher Limits
The move follows a provincial online survey that showed clear support for the change. The survey, conducted from November 7 to December 12, 2025, received nearly 60,000 responses. Results indicated that 68 per cent of respondents support raising the limit on divided highways like the QEII from 110 km/h to 120 km/h.
Alberta's Transportation Minister, Devin Dreeshen, stated the data shows drivers are ready for updated regulations. "It's clear that Albertans are ready for modern, common-sense rules that better reflect how our roads are built and how people actually drive," Dreeshen said in a press release.
Safety and Traffic Flow Considerations
The government's decision is partly based on current driving behaviour. Traffic monitoring reveals that on major divided highways, many vehicles already travel between 120 and 125 km/h. Dreeshen also pointed to engineering standards, noting, "Alberta's divided highways were engineered to safely handle 120 kilometres per hour, and advances in vehicle safety and road design make that even more practical today."
The survey also sought input on lane management for large vehicles. An overwhelming 90 per cent of respondents supported restricting commercial trucks to certain lanes on major multi-lane highways. This idea is aimed at improving predictable traffic flow and safety, aligning with feedback from industry and municipal leaders.
Highways Under Consideration and Safety Context
The province has identified several highways for potential inclusion in the speed limit trial. The list under consideration includes:
- Highway 1 from Banff to the Saskatchewan border
- Highway 2 between Edmonton and Calgary and south (excluding Deerfoot Trail)
- The divided portions of Highway 3
- Highway 4 from Lethbridge to the U.S. border
- Highway 16 from Hinton to Lloydminster
- Highway 63 from north of Highway 55 to Fort McMurray
- Highway 43 from west of Edmonton to Grande Prairie
This proposed increase comes after the province ended 70 per cent of photo radar operations, raising discussions about road safety. Provincial collision data from 2023 shows unsafe speed was a factor in roughly 13 to 14 per cent of fatal crashes overall, and in 20 to 25 per cent of crashes on rural highways specifically.
The government emphasizes the upcoming initiative will be a "controlled mini-trial" paired with strong monitoring and safety evaluation. The results will likely inform future permanent changes to Alberta's traffic regulations.
