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Montreal police unveil new tool to measure distance between drivers, cyclists

Click to play video: 'New SPVM technology to keep cyclists safe'
New SPVM technology to keep cyclists safe
WATCH ABOVE: After a summer of testing, Montreal police have unveiled the latest tool in their bike patrol arsenal. Global’s Brayden Jagger Haines explains – Aug 22, 2019

After a summer of testing, Montreal police have unveiled the latest tool in their bike patrol arsenal.

READ MORE: City of Montreal wants JUMP e-bike users to respect parking guidelines

The new device, called C3FT, attaches to the handlebars of a patrol bike and measures the distance between a cyclist and a driver.

“Cars pass close to us and cyclists on the road and it is safety concern,” said Montreal police bike patrol officer Oliver Archambault.

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By law, drivers must keep a distance of one metre between their car and a cyclist, and 1.5 metres in areas exceeding 50 km/h.

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Offenders could pay a fine of $313 and lose two demerit points under Section 341 of the Highway Safety Code.

“It opens up their eyes to see that sometimes their driving is dangerous,” Archambault said.

READ MORE: Montreal announces first year-round bike path on new Samuel de Champlain Bridge

Thursday, Montreal police used one of their four new devices during an operation conducted in Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue, in the West Island of Montreal. The other three will be dispersed across the island of Montreal.

The force purchased the new technology, at a price of $2,000 each after receiving a grant from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) last year,

 

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