West Vancouver council says it’s time to bring back photo radar in key stretches of local roads known for leadfoot drivers.
Council passed unanimously a motion from Couns. Marcus Wong and Sharon Thompson Monday night, calling on the province to allow automated speed enforcement in the municipality.
The province announced earlier this month a number of existing red-light cameras would also be configured to automatically ticket speeders blowing through some intersections but the only one the North Shore was Marine Drive at Capilano Road.
In introducing his motion Wong said the program “does not really address the needs of West Vancouver.”
“Whereas other intersections and roads are ones that the police have identified as being problematic and therefor would benefit from this technology,” he said.
The actual locations of speed cameras in West Van would be selected in consultation with the police and ICBC, but Wong had some early suggestions: the 300 block of Marine Drive eastbound, the 600 block of Marine Drive westbound, Cypress Bowl Road, and the area around Eagle Harbour Montessori.
“Certainly I think we all heard it during the campaign – that we need to do something about it. So as the program is being rolled out to the province, I think it’s very important for us to advocate where we know that is an issue,” Wong said.
In a letter that will now be sent to Minster of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, Mayor Mary-Ann Booth makes the case for photo radar.
“Not only has the use of automated speed cameras as a speed deterrent and enforcement tool proven to be effective and efficient in management of speed, but also in the lowering of incidents of crashes, injuries and fatalities,” Booth wrote.
