Results are in from the province’s photo radar initiative in orange zones, and it seems drivers aren’t slowing down.
Last year the province promised to increase worker safety in highway orange zones after a flag person was fatally hit on the job.
Between August 13th – November 8th, 1,717 tickets were issued via photo radar for speeding in construction zones. Thirty-one of those were issued to drivers going over 100 km/hr. The standard limit is 60 km/hr.
Roughly 80 percent of tickets were issued to speeders doing 60-80 km/hr.
Minister of Highways & Infrastructure, Don McMorris, says as this is the first year for the program, it’s hard to determine how severe these numbers really are. But, he says nonetheless they’re unacceptable.
“People haven’t quite got the message yet, so perhaps it’s more education, perhaps it’s an expansion of photo radar, perhaps it’s the signing,” said McMorris. ” We will need to look at all of that to ensure our workers are safe when they’re on the highway.”
McMorris does believe tripling the fines for orange zone tickets has helped reduce the number of tickets issued.