While the entire province of Ontario recently moved to ban traffic speed cameras, one Metro Vancouver mayor is fighting to bring more to his city.
Mayor Patrick Johnstone insists the cameras improve safety, and many residents want them installed.
“The public wants to see enforcement of speed and intersections in our community. The polls are really clear on that,” Johnstone told 1130 NewsRadio.
He says the benefits include reducing crashes, which reduces the load on emergency departments.
“One third of my fire department calls and about one third of my police department calls are responding to road incidents. So when you think about the budgets of our police departments, of our first responders, it’s significant,” said Johnstone.
He dismissed “ridiculous” claims that the cameras are a “cash cow” designed only to collect fines.
“The money goes into general revenue for the province. Some of it is returned to cities, but it’s not returned based on the amount of enforcement that happens in the cities. It’s just been on a population basis.”
The city can’t currently install the cameras itself, needing provincial approval.
Johnstone says the city has been pressing the provincial government and ICBC for more authority — but so far has not received a response.
Meanwhile, he says New Westminster is launching a Vision-Zero task force, collecting data for coordinated approaches to making the city’s roads safer.
“I’m hoping that these conversations with the province will continue. I’m hoping that they will see the light too, that automated enforcement is something the community wants — something the community is asking for.”
