It’s been nearly five years since B.C. increased the speed limit along several popular highways in the province.

The Coquihalla, the Connector, and the Island Highway all saw the speed limit raised from 110 km/h to 120 km/h, making them the fastest highways in Canada.

A new study from UBC now suggests that the move to increase speed has also increased the danger.

According to the study, fatal crashes have more than doubled, showing “a marked deterioration of safety on the affected roads.”

Statistics for the study were generated from police reports, auto insurance claims, ambulance call dispatches, and gasoline sales.

Those statistics also cited a 43% increase in insurance claims and a 30% increase in injury claims.

Merritt, B.C. is located between the Connector and the Coquihalla highways and the city’s Mayor Neil Menard has strongly advocated for a lowered speed limit, saying most drivers are not trained to handle mountainous roads at that speed.

The study echoes Menard's call for decreased speeds, recommending B.C. reinstate the 110kn/h speed limit.