The installation of photo radar cameras in the province has started. Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) says the cameras should be operational early next week.
“We want people to know the cameras are live,” said SGI President and CEO Andrew Cartmell. “Our goal with this pilot is zero tickets and zero crashes.”
Photo radar on Circle Drive and in selected school zones was approved by Saskatoon city council on Nov. 24. Saskatoon police Chief Clive Weighill supports the measure in an effort to slow people down, not to make money.
Read more: Photo radar approved for Saskatoon
“The whole purpose of this is not to make a buck, it’s to slow people down and I can assure you if there are any inappropriate tickets, they will stop on my desk,” said Weighill.
Read more: Saskatoon city councillors want to weigh in on photo radar
The first photo radar pilot project location in the province went operational on Nov. 14 at the intersection of Highway 1 and 9th Avenue in Moose Jaw. In a four-day period starting Nov. 23, 586 vehicles were going over the posted speed limit of 80 km/h and 300 were going more than 20 km/h over the limit.
Those drivers will be getting off with a warning. For the first two months of the two-year pilot project, drivers caught speeding will be mailed a warning ticket.
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“The excessive speeds caught by the camera demonstrate why it is important to have an enforcement device on this extremely busy stretch of highway,” said Cartmell.
“Photo speed enforcement has been proven to calm traffic, reducing collisions and the related deaths and injuries. We anticipate that over time, as drivers become more aware and start receiving warning letters, they will slow down. If one life is saved, this program is worth it.”
Read more: Saskatoon’s photo radar project takes next step
Photo radar zones at five locations on Circle Drive, school zones and Highway 12 at Martensville will be marked by yellow informational signs along with black-and-white regulatory signs.
Cameras are also being installed on Ring Road and select school zones in Regina, on Highway 1 between the Pilot Butte turnoff and White City, and in select Moose Jaw school zones.
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