The B.C. Attorney General and ICBC are announcing some major changes coming to intersections in the province as they work to modernize traffic cameras.
According to the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General, ICBC is going to replace 140 aging intersection safety cameras around the province to keep supporting safer driving and preventing crashes.
Work will take place in phases, and ICBC suggests that road users should see minimal impacts.
The ministry says the new cameras will have “modern technology.”
“The intersection safety camera program will continue to help reduce dangerous driving behaviours, such as red-light running and excessive speeding, prevent crashes and improve safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians throughout the province,” a release from the ministry states.
“The camera intersections were chosen through data analysis of high-risk intersections throughout B.C., to find where red-light running and speeding cause the most serious crashes,” the ministry added.
Cameras that are currently in use are at the end of their working life, and ICBC has chosen a Canadian company to supply the new cameras. Jenoptik Canada will install the new cameras and maintain them for up to 10 years.
“The new cameras will have higher resolution and similar enforcement and data capabilities as the previous cameras.”
The new cameras will require updating regulations under the Motor Vehicle Act. The ministry also says that around 90 of the sites will require some minor road or sidewalk work for new poles and wiring.
“ICBC’s road safety investment in the new cameras is $67 million over the life of the contract. The contract award is posted on the BC Bid website,” the ministry says, adding that “traffic offences, fines and penalties will not change.”
Initially, locations were selected based on where B.C. traffic incidents occur most frequently, and the ministry says that over the past five years, red light infractions have decreased by 13 per cent.
Aside from being higher resolution, the release doesn’t specifically state what the changes in technology are, but we’ve contacted ICBC for more information.
You can find more information about B.C.’s road safety plan on the BC Road Safety Strategy website.