Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

Chief Constable

SUBJECT:

Intersection Safety Cameras

 

RECOMMENDATION

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to allow the Province of British Columbia to operate the Intersection Safety Camera Program in the City of Vancouver.

DISCUSSION

A technology review was conducted in the winter of 1998 to study the feasibility of intersection cameras in BC. Upon acceptance of the technology the Attorney General's Department chose three areas for performance testing. The three areas chosen were Vancouver, Richmond and Surrey.

The General Manager of Engineering Services submitted a report to Council on October 19, 1998 recommending the testing of the Intersection Safety Cameras on an interim basis and subject to a mutually satisfactory revenue-sharing agreement being negotiated with the Province. As a result, one trial location was put into operation. The performance testing phase of the Intersection Safety Program began operation December 10, 1998, at Nanaimo and Kingsway.

Acceptance

The BC Association of Chiefs and the Municipal Chief's Association have endorsed the Intersection Safety Camera Program.

Sites

If the program were accepted in Vancouver, Engineering Services would construct the twenty-five sites in the city. These sites would be selected and approved by the Vancouver Police Department based on statistical analysis disclosing high crash intersections. There will be seven cameras rotated through these sites on an alternate basis.

Each site that does not have a camera would be equipped with a unit that collects data to evaluate the program. The data unit would flash like a camera if a vehicle runs a red light. No ticket is issued; however, if drivers see the flash it may cause them to change their future driving behaviour.

Effectiveness

Statistics indicate approximately one-half of vehicle crashes occur within intersections. Signalized intersections are among the most severe.

In the event a crash occurs in an intersection where a camera is operating, the photograph taken will assist crash investigators in determining liability, thereby reducing police court costs associated to vehicle crashes.

Violations are monitored twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The following reduction of violations occurred at the first test site at King George Highway and 96th Avenue:

Data for Vancouver

From the program's inception December 10, 1998 to April 7, 1999, the camera at Nanaimo and Kingsway photographed 1,674 red light infractions. For the purpose of the study the camera only recorded eastbound offences.

COSTS AND REVENUE ESTIMATES

Based on a review of other jurisdictions, the project team is estimating that each camera will produce about five tickets per day. The fine amount for each ticket is $144 and the estimated revenue from seven cameras will be approximately $1 million dollars in the first full year of operation.

The implementation cost of the program is approximately $120,000 per intersection. This cost includes equipment, construction, testing and all labour costs. Developing twenty-five intersections for Vancouver will cost the program approximately $3 million.

Ongoing operational costs will include two camera operators for Vancouver sites and staff to process violations. These costs, and all other costs of the program, will be borne by ICBC and the Province.

REVENUE SHARING

The Province has agreed to revenue sharing for conventional traffic enforcement to reimburse local governments for costs incurred in issuing tickets. However, since the Province has assumed all costs for the Intersection Safety Program, this form of enforcement is not offered in the revenue sharing program.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no financial cost to the City of Vancouver. The Attorney General's Department pays for the planning, installation, maintenance and operative costs of the program.

Program staff conduct safety assessments at intersections that may be candidates for Intersection Safety Cameras. If the review determines that there may be design problems at an intersection, those results will be forwarded to the City of Vancouver Engineering Department and ICBC's Road Improvement Program for future consideration.

GOAL

The toll of injuries and fatalities as a result of intersection crashes is an urgent health care and social issue. Intersection Safety Cameras will assist the Vancouver Police Department to improve road safety in the City of Vancouver by reducing deaths, injuries and property damage crashes.

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ag990601.htm

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