Rick Stiebel/B次元官网网址 Gazette staff
A two-pronged approach to a plan to reduce the number of speeders on the Malahat should carry more weight with the provincial government, says Saanich Coun. Colin Plant.
While Plant admitted itB次元官网网址檚 ironic to have a discussion on speeding while the Malahat is plagued by slowdowns resulting from ongoing construction and blasting, he noted, itB次元官网网址檚 still important to address the viability of interval-based cameras on that stretch of highway before the work is completed. B次元官网网址淎ny long-term improvements to safety are always welcome,B次元官网网址� he said.
Plant, chair of the Capital Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 traffic safety commission, said the commission has approached the Cowichan Valley Regional District about joining with the CRD to petition the provincial government to install interval-based cameras.
The CVRDB次元官网网址檚 response indicated that more information is needed before a decision can be made, Plant said.
The CRD asked the CVRD this week to schedule a presentation by the traffic safety commission that would provide more detail about the interval-based camera proposal at the next CVRD meeting in September.
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Interval-based cameras record licence plates at various intervals to determine the vehicleB次元官网网址檚 speed.
Plant said research on their use at a problem location in Scotland resulted in reduction of speeding vehicles from 33 per cent to five per cent.
The results from a location in China were even more dramatic, with only two per cent of drivers speeding, down from 50 per cent. The technology was introduced in Ontario and Alberta recently, but there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been sufficient time to compile data yet, Plant noted. B次元官网网址淚f you know the cameras are there and youB次元官网网址檙e going to get a ticket, youB次元官网网址檙e going to slow down,B次元官网网址� Plant said.
Although he is aware that B.C. Attorney-General David Eby has indicated the NDP government is not considering a return to photo radar enforcement, Plant believes interval-based cameras constitute a different approach that is well worth considering.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not like photo radar where drivers watch for vans that move from one location to another,B次元官网网址� he explained. B次元官网网址淲e want people to know the cameras are there and they need to slow down,B次元官网网址� he said.
Plant also believes the provincial government may be more amenable to considering the new option because of the financial challenges currently facing ICBC, pointing out that less drivers speeding means less accidents and less claims.
B次元官网网址淚nterval-based cameras create changes in behaviour by having the road monitored 24 hours a day.B次元官网网址�
The CRD traffic safety commissionB次元官网网址檚 mandate is to improve safety through education and recommendations arrived at by consultation with representatives from ICBC, law enforcement, the coronerB次元官网网址檚 office, the media, medical health and the public, Plant explained. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have the capacity to make suggestions based on engineering,B次元官网网址� he noted.
The board recently added representatives from the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition and Walk On Victoria B次元官网网址� a pedestrian advocacy group B次元官网网址� to provide more diversity, he added.
