Speed cameras working to slow down drivers, says City of Guelph
Photo radar cameras, rolled out in some Guelph school zones last year, slowed drivers down by an average of 20 per cent, the city reports.
The city has four cameras, which are rotated through different school zones every three months.
Analyzing data from the first eight locations since the cameras were turned on in August, city staff found drivers were three times more likely to drive below the posted speed limit when the cameras were in use.
The average driving speed across all eight locations prior to camera installation was 42 km/h. That dropped to 33 km/h when the cameras were there.
“We are glad to see that the data demonstrates that the program is effectively enhancing road safety and promoting responsible driving habits in Guelph,” the city’s manager of transportation engineering Steve Anderson said in a news release. “This is a good thing.”
Even relatively small speed reductions can make a big difference when it comes to pedestrian safety. Only 15 per cent of people who are hit by a vehicle travelling 50 km/h survive, the city said. The survival rate increases to 70 per cent at 40 km/h and 90 per cent at 30 km/h.
What you need to know about photo radar cameras
The cameras work by taking photographic proof of the traffic violation.
“It gets verified by a processing center and then the ticket gets mailed to the owner of the vehicle,” Anderson explained.
The city said there have been about 10,000 traffic violations since August. Both the city and police hope that number will eventually be zero.
Asked if the cameras are turned on 24/7 or just during school hours, the city declined to say.
Click here to see a list of upcoming camera locations.
More cameras being installed
Lori Jackson lives on June Avenue, across the street from a new speed camera that was installed on May 1.
She wishes it had been installed sooner.
A speed camera set up on June Avenue in Guelph, Ont. (Heather Senoran/CTV Kitchener)
The speed limit on June Avenue is 30 km/h, but said she sees drivers going much faster.
“60 at least. There's been a few that might even been going a little bit faster than that,” Jackson told CTV News on Thursday.
It's only been one day since the camera was installed but she’s already noticed a difference.
“It has really slowed the traffic down,” Jackson explained.
Guelph police said it is all about creating safer driving habits.
“[When] people drive through an area they see that there's a camera there. They will instinctively slow down the next time they drive through, whether the cameras are still there or not, which is really the behavior that we're all trying to encourage the public,” said Scott Tracey from Guelph police.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lanny McDonald and a few old Flames take the Stanley Cup on a surprise visit to the man who saved his life
The Stanley Cup was passing through town Friday, and Lanny Legend took it upon himself to take it for a surprise visit.
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend’s two children in jury decision
Jurors resumed deliberations Saturday on whether a man should be sentenced to death after being convicted days earlier of the murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children in Idaho.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
China lands spacecraft on the moon amid growing space rivalry with U.S.
A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Brockville, Ont.
Brockville Police says a pedestrian has died following a collision with a train that was heading to Toronto.