The BC government is lowering the speed limit on 15 highways.
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claire Trevena made the announcement this morning in Victoria, unveiling what the ministry calls a safety regarding changes to speed limits on certain B.C. routes.
The move follows a University of British Columbia study released last month, that revealed fatal crashes have doubled on some highways where faster speeds are permitted
Trevena later called the data startling, and said staff were examining the limits to see if they were appropriate in all areas.
Speed limits were boosted between 10 and 20 kilometres per hour on 33 stretches of highway - covering roughly 570 kilometes - in July 2014.
Routes affected on Vancouver Island include Hwy 1 between Cowichan Bay and Nanaimo; lowering from 90 km/h to 80 km/h, and Highway 19 from Parksville to Campbell River; dropping from 120 km/h to 110 km/h.
The Ministry of Transportation says the speed limit changes will begin immediately.
There are 339 signs that need to be changed, and inclement weather conditions could be a factor in the process.