Photo radar does save lives

RE: Police clock driver at 141 km in 40-km zone (Jan. 19)

British Columbia’s six-year experience in the ’90s proved that speed-related accidents and fatalities are reduced by photo radar. For six years prior to instituting photo radar in 1995 there were 534 deaths per year due to MVA collisions. After photo radar, deaths were reduced to 408 per year. After photo radar was cancelled, deaths rose to 439 per year. In addition, after the first year of photo radar, the number of unsafe speed collisions was reduced by 25 per cent and the number of fatalities was reduced by 17 per cent. These statistics are convincing evidence for the benefit of photo radar, not to mention the lives saved.

The 140 km/h speeder on Paramount Drive was caught before killing himself or another. Last summer, another speeder on Paramount Drive was not so lucky.

Societal benefits include reduced health-care costs, reduced disabilities and reduced insurance costs. The case against photo radar is primarily based on the notion that it is a cash grab on the part of government, an unconvincing argument. If municipal and provincial officials are unwilling to stand against this argument, they can simply make photo radar revenue neutral. Photo radar is not intended to catch speeders going 5 km/h over the limit.

Society accepts having police officers by the road with a radar gun catching speeders, so what is the difference in a photo radar device doing the same thing? Signage alerting drivers is appropriate. The provincial government should pass Bill 99 and allow municipalities to choose what they wish to do.

MC & FD Fraser, Hamilton