Alberta Aims to Decrease Photo Radar Sites by 70% by Next Spring

December 3, 2024 TruthUSA

The Alberta government is planning to conduct a review of its photo radar sites and eliminate those that are deemed ineffective. This move is expected to reduce the number of active locations by 70 percent by next spring.

The decision comes in response to growing frustration among Albertans who believe that photo radar is being used more for revenue generation than for improving safety. This was stated by the province in a release on December 2.

Over the next four months, officials will review all active photo radar sites and remove those that are not effective in reducing collisions. Additionally, starting April 1, 2025, photo radar enforcement will only occur in school, recreation, and construction zones, ending ticketing on numbered provincial highways.

Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen stated in a December 2 release that these changes will eliminate the use of photo radar for revenue purposes in Alberta. The focus will be on enhancing traffic and roadside worker safety.

The review of active sites will reduce the number of photo radar locations from 2,200 to around 650 in the province.

Intersection safety devices will now only be used for red light enforcement, ending the current “speed-on-green” cameras. Dreeshen mentioned in a statement that these cameras have unfairly penalized everyday Albertans and will no longer be in use.

To enhance traffic safety, the province plans to encourage municipalities to use alternative measures such as speed warning signs, speed tables, and public education campaigns. Municipalities were consulted earlier this summer to gather input on these measures.

On an exceptional basis, the provincial government may approve additional photo radar locations for municipalities in high-collision areas or where other safety measures are not feasible. In such cases, the effectiveness of these sites will be audited every two years.

The province will also assist municipalities in making roads safer by providing support to re-engineer roads and intersections that have been identified as unsafe.

Calgary Police Chief Mark Neufeld, who also serves as president of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, criticized the measures, stating that they will not improve traffic safety.

At a press conference on December 2, Neufeld expressed that automated traffic enforcement is effective in making streets safer and saving lives. He anticipates an increase in serious and fatal collisions due to these changes.

Neufeld emphasized that the revenue generated from automated traffic enforcement is utilized for programs that Albertans value, rather than for personal gain or frivolous expenditures.

All photo radar sites were removed from ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton a year ago.

According to provincial data, the highest revenue-generating photo radar site in Alberta last year was located in Strathcona County, collecting $5,956,573 in fines over a 144-day period. A site in Edmonton came in second, collecting $2,717,393 in fines over the same period.

Source link