A pedestrian group says Quebec should lower the speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h.

Should Quebec lower the speed limit from 50 kilometers per hour to 30 kilometers per hour in cities across the province? That's what a non-profit organization that advocates for pedestrian safety is calling for.

Pedestons Quebec says Bill 48, which essentially amends the Highway Safety Code, does not do enough to ensure pedestrian safety.

As public hearings and consultations on amendments to the bill take place in Quebec City this week, the group has come up with 22 recommendations to improve pedestrian safety.

Pedestons Quebec wants a speed limit of 30 km/h to be a “reference in urbanized areas”.

“If it was deemed appropriate, a higher speed limit would still be possible because it is actually the design speed limit that is actually set at 50 km/h, but the speed limit at the front is 30 km/h. you can set a speed limit of 70 km/h in a park or on a boulevard,” said Sandrine Cabana-Degany, executive director of Piétons Québec, in a statement to CityNews.

Cabana-Deghani describes this idea as “changing the social norm.”

“Changing the design speed limit will affect the concept of roads,” he said. “If it is determined that higher speed limits are appropriate on certain streets, the onus is on to provide infrastructure to protect vulnerable road users.

“30 km/h is an adequate speed for safe coexistence. The World Health Organization says that this must be done to save lives. For this purpose, we must send a strong appeal to the people and road leaders.

According to Piétons Québec, pedestrians have a 90 percent chance of survival if hit by a vehicle traveling at 30 kilometers per hour, and a 25 percent chance of survival if struck by a vehicle traveling at 50 kilometers per hour.

“I think it's a good thing to do because there are a lot of crazy drivers around, especially downtown,” one person told CityNews about the idea.

“Yeah, I think it's more dangerous than it needs to be,” added another.

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Corrine Payne, executive director of the Quebec Federation of Parents' Committees, will present her recommendations before the committee on Wednesday.

“In school zones, 30 kilometers is a must,” Payne said. “A lot of people think that's already the case, but it's not. There are many exceptions.

“Most of the time, the streets directly adjacent to the school are 'well protected', but children often take other routes to get to school… Not only the streets, but also the paths that the children walk should be taken into account. that's the suggestion I'll make tomorrow.”

CityNews reached out to the Quebec transport minister's office for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Quebec Transport Minister Genevieve Guilbeau announced this last summer action plan for ensuring road traffic safety. This comes after Quebec saw a rise in road fatalities in 2022.

CAA-Québec says 80 percent of deaths on Quebec roads are due to human error, including distraction, fatigue, drunk driving or speeding.

According to the Montreal police, last year 16 pedestrians died, 42 pedestrians were seriously injured, and more than 800 pedestrians were slightly injured by another vehicle.

“You have to slow down, otherwise there will be more accidents,” one Montrealer told CityNews.

“I'm in favor of reducing the speed as long as other measures are taken for the convenience of other drivers,” added another.