York Region may get more red light cameras

YorkRegion.com
June 11, 2015
By Lisa Queen

Could a red light camera soon be coming to an intersection near you?

York Region should double the number of cameras, adding 20 intersections across the region, according to an annual traffic safety report coming to a committee meeting this morning.

At the same time, the region should rethink if community safety zones that aim to reduce speed limits at schools adjacent to regional roads are effective, it said.

Brian Patterson, president of the Ontario Safety League, is applauding both suggestions.

“I think both recommendations would improve road safety,” he said.

Red light cameras have proven to be effective at encouraging drivers not to enter intersections on a red light, Patterson said.

However, he would like to see them tied to technology that also records vehicles’ speed approaching intersections to prevent drivers from racing to beat a red light.

Meanwhile, simply posting a community safety zone sign outside a school without accompanying public education and enforcement does not result in a significant decrease in drivers’ speeds, Patterson said.

The report recommends councillors approve, in principle, adding up to 20 new red light cameras beginning in 2017 at a cost of $1 million annually, which would be paid for through fines.

“Since the fall of 2013, red light cameras have been operational at 20 intersections on regional roads. The results indicate that right angle (T-bone) collisions were reduced by 48 per cent over a year since implementation,” 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 objectives of the program.”

Last year, 8,600 tickets were issued, resulting in $1.5 million being collected in fines, which is less than the $2.2 million the region had been anticipating.

The difference can be attributed to various factors, such as judicial discretion in reducing fines and the lapse in time between when tickets are issued and fines are collected.

Because the transportation services budget pays for the program, but revenue goes to court services, the money for more red light cameras would come from the roads operating budget.

If councillors don’t want to boost that budget by $1 million, the report recommends relocating 10 of the existing red light cameras to higher-risk intersections.

Meanwhile, staff should evaluate the effectiveness of community safety zones in reducing drivers’ speed in school areas, the report said

Since 2012, when community safety zones were established on regional roads adjacent to all schools, 57 zones have been established, covering about 50 kilometres of regional roads.

Initially, studies indicate community safety zones may not be effective in reducing speeds in school areas, the report said.

The region looked at the speed of drivers at nine zones last year.

 The results show nominal reductions in speeds compared to pre-community safety zone conditions, the report stated.

Based on preliminary results, local municipal and regional staff are concerned motorists are disregarding community safety zones due to the use in school areas that have minimal school activity.

The report recommends further study, with the results coming to council for a decision next year.