Corp Comm Connects


York Region to double red-light cameras over 5 years

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 4, 2016
By Lisa Queen

The number of red-light cameras at intersections across York Region will double to 40 next year, according to a report coming to a regional committee meeting Thursday.

Councillors are expected to approve spending $5.5 million for a five-year contract beginning Jan. 1, 2017 with Traffipax LLC for the supply and installation of 20 new red-light cameras and for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the overall expanded system, which would also include the existing 20 cameras.

The contract could be extended for another five years beginning in 2022 for an estimated additional $4 million.

Last June, when council approved the concept of adding 20 new red-light cameras, the region said the cost would be paid through fines.

If the new contract is approved at the committee meeting, it would still have to be endorsed by council Feb. 18.

Red-light cameras have dramatically cut down on right angle or T-bone collisions, a report coming to tomorrow’s committee meeting says.

“Since fall of 2013, red-light cameras have been operational at 20 intersections on regional roads. As of August 2015, right-angle collisions at these intersections were reduced by 60 per cent (from 134 collisions down to 51 collisions) over the first 18 months of operation,” it said.

“Experience in other jurisdictions suggests that, over time, a right angle collision reduction of 25 to 30 per cent is more likely. A 25 to 30-per-cent reduction is still significant and meets the safety objectives of the program.”

Brian Patterson, president of the Ontario Safety League, applauds adding the new cameras.

“It’s an appropriate use of technology that is going to save lives and reduce collisions in the region,” he said.

There were some initial concerns that the number of rear-end collisions might jump if drivers slammed on their brakes to avoid entering an intersection with a red-light camera but that hasn’t been the case because the region chose the intersections wisely, Patterson said.

The intersections where the new cameras will be installed were not identified.

EXISTING RED-LIGHT CAMERAS are in operation at the following locations: