A practice used in Ontario more than 20 years ago is once again on the table for discussion.
Coun. Riley Brockington brought the motion asking the province to allow photo radar on city streets to Ottawa city council last month.
The technology works similar to red-light cameras: it snaps a picture of a speeder and sends the vehicle owner a ticket in the mail.
Only drivers going over the posted speed limit by six to 10 km/h or more, depending on the zone, would get a ticket.
According to police reports, this technology decreases severe road collisions involving death or serious injury in other cities throughout Canada, such as Edmonton, Montreal and our neighbours across the river in Gatineau. In addition, drivers in these cities generally drive slower in the areas of the radar technology.
Seems like a good solution to catching speeders and drivers whizzing through red lights, right? Right.
So why all the backlash?
Critics of photo radar worry about the possibility of it becoming a cash grab for the city. This can become a legitimate concern if the rules for photo radar and what happens to the money are not clear.
However, it’s not a problem in Quebec. The fines collected from photo radar tickets pay to keep the radar machines running and other road safety initiatives. No unwanted hands can take from the fund and the province is very transparent about that.
But if drivers stop speeding, the revenues would deplete and there would be no fund to manage.
Photo radar cameras will have proper sineage, allowing drivers the choice to slow down before the camera.
If they receive a ticket, it’s a result of their own decision.
Naysayers are also concerned photo radar machines won’t stop all bad drivers and rule breakers.
Which is right, they won’t.
Photo radar won’t catch drunk drivers and people who don’t signal when they change lanes. Police officers do that.
But it will make people drive safer and be more aware of their surroundings when they drive.
Maybe one speeding ticket won’t make a driver slow down, but demerit points and thousands of dollars in fines just might.
Drivers receive three to seven demerit points for speeding more than 15 km/h.
After nine demerit points, the Ministry of Transportation will have an interview with the driver to discuss if he or she should keep their license. After 15 demerit points, it will suspend the driver’s license and take away his or her driving privilege.
Not only that, but the driver’s insurance rate will climb with each ticket. Some insurance companies even drop high-risk drivers because they are too much of a liability.
Now there’s a wakeup call.
Maybe then the driver will learn to be safer on the road, which is the point of photo radar.
The other options for slowing down speeders, such as speed bumps and stop signs, just aren’t reasonable in high traffic areas like Centretown.
The technology can also be used for more than just nabbing speeders. It can also snap a photo of a driver running a red light.
Perhaps drivers will finally learn that a yellow light means slow down, not speed up.
These cameras are complementary to police officers. They will help reduce the need of officers for speeding infractions when they could be needed somewhere else. This too, will make roads safer.
Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau supports the idea and says the technology will save lives because it encourages drivers to be aware of their surroundings and drive safer.
With a recommendation like that, why wouldn’t Ottawa give it a chance?
Ottawa city council will bring in the transportation committee and debate the issue again on May 4.
Ottawa has a speeding problem.
It’s time we give photo radar a try.