Good morning {{First name}}!
It’s expected to be a little smoky today. The Island has 11 active wildfires, including, as CHEK News reports, a new one south of Fanny Bay.
That little face-in-the-cloud-smoke emoji below doesn’t capture the seriousness of the situation—sorry, it’s all we got.
— Mark
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡 Weather Forecast
NEWS
View Royal lowering speed limits starting Aug. 21
Speed Limit Map courtesy of the Town of View Royal
Drivers in View Royal will have to adjust their speeds as limits drop to 30 km/h on residential streets.
Last December, View Royal’s city council voted to reduce speed limits on selected roadways—and those changes come into effect on Friday.
All residential-class roads: reduced to 30 km/h
Island Highway, from Admirals to Burnside West: reduced to 40 km/h
Collector-class roadways surrounding Eagle View Elementary School: reduced to 40 km/h
“Reducing speeds is a cost-effective way to improve road safety, particularly in residential areas and near schools, and responds to feedback and strategies identified in the Town’s 2023 Active Transportation Network Plan," the town said.
It cites studies indicating that a pedestrian hit at 30 km/h has a 90% chance of surviving, while a pedestrian struck at 50 km/h has an 80% chance of being killed.
Not only does travelling at slower speeds allow drivers more time to respond to road conditions and other road users, but it also makes for quieter neighbourhoods, the town said.
View Royal follows similar speed-reduction moves by the City of Victoria in 2025 and by Central Saanich, which reduced speed limits this past June.
Revised speed limit signs will be going up starting Friday. It will take about a week to get them all posted, the town said. Until then, existing posted speed limits remain in effect.
⚠ Capital Bulletin
Police seek witnesses in Aug. 11 bear spray incident at Westshore Town Centre. [RCMP]
Cook construction: lane closures and traffic delays from Bay to Tolmie through Aug. 21.
Saanich road closure: Goward at Tod Creek. Bridge repair tomorrow through Wednesday, 7am-5pm.
Reducing health risks from smoke during wildfire season. [BC Gov]
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
On the water today? Check the tide times for Victoria.
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