Cameras don't lie: Councillor says Fredericton's got a speeding problem

Secret cameras installedby the City of Fredericton at two localintersections revealed that drivers havea serious speedingproblem.

For almost two days in the fall of 2015, the City of Fredericton set up cameras at the intersection of Regent and Brunswick streets and atWestmorland and Queen streets.

Red-light cameras are typically set up in intersections and record the licence plateof any vehicle that runs a red light. The owner of the vehicle is then sent a ticket for the offence.

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"We do have a speeding problem through intersections,through green and yellow lights we have a red light issue," said Stephen Chase, chair of Fredericton's Public Safety and Environment Committee, who supports permanent use ofred-light cameras.

No tickets were issuedin Fredericton after the trial use of red-light cameras, but the tapes were given to the University of British Columbia for review.

The findings, recently provided to the city, show the camera at Regent and Brunswick streets recorded 12,500 vehicles passingthrough and captured the following:

• Red-light running: 17
• Speeding more than 50 km/h: 2,152 (17 per cent)
• Speeding more than 55 km/h: 676
• Speeding more than 60 km/h:225
• Speeding more than 65 km/h: 66
• Speeding more than 70 km/h: 19

The camera atWestmorland and Queen streets saw 17,800 vehiclespass through and picked up the following:

• Red-light running: 15
• Speeding more than 50 km/h: 2,307 (13 per cent)
• Speeding more than 55 km/h: 1,532
• Speeding more than 60 km/h: 622
• Speeding more than 65 km/h: 242
• Speeding more than 70 km/h: 82

"Some people, when they see the yellow light, they step on it," Chase said.

The city tested the technologyusing camerasprovided by Edmonton, where severe collisions were reduced by 20 per cent after the installation ofcameras a few years ago.

A need for new technology

The Motor Vehicle Act doesn't allow for the use of red-light cameras in New Brunswick.

Although an amendment has not yet been proposed, but Chase said he feels the provincial government is open to the idea.

Most cities across Canada use red-light cameras and there's definitelya need for technology of this kind, he said.

"Thisis all for safety," he said.

Chase applauded the work police have doneto curb speeding in the city but said they can't be at every corner supervising traffic.

"It's a major social problem that we have and it's not going to be reduced by boots on the ground," he said. "Technology is used everywhere around the world for this."