WINNIPEG, Man. – Speed limits on certain sections of twinned roadways in Manitoba will increase to 110 km/h on July 1 – but so too will speeding fines, the province has announced.

Transport Minister Ron Lemieux and Attorney General Dave Chomiak made the announcement yesterday in hopes of deterring drivers from speeding.

“Increasing the speed limit is not an invitation to speed,” said Lemieux. “We are increasing the limit in a very controlled manner on two short sections of twinned highway where it is safe to do so. At the same time, we are being very clear that increasing the speed limit is not an invitation to speed and we are doing this by increasing the penalty for drivers who exceed the posted limit.”

The stretches of highway that will see higher speed limits include the PTH 1 from the Saskatchewan border to Virden, Man. The speed on PTH 75 from the Emerson border crossing to St. Jean Baptiste will also increase from 100 km/h to 110.

“These increases allow motorists some continuity when entering Manitoba from Saskatchewan and North Dakota,” said Lemieux. “We are not proceeding with any further speed limit increases at this time beyond the increases announced today. However, we will watch very closely how motorists respond to these increases and incorporate this into future highway planning.”

Speeding fines will increase for all infractions in the province as of July 1, Lemieux announced. Speeding 10 km/h to 34 km/h over the posted limit will net fines costing between $27 and $171 more than today, depending on the speed.