Politicians in the Capital Regional District are floating a proposal to install surveillance cameras on the Malahat Highway in an effort to slow speeding drivers.
Despite police traps and road safety campaigns, the stretch of highway is still notorious as a speedway for fast drivers.
But local politicians think they can finally solve it by setting up so-called “interval cameras” at different spots along the Malahat that would record licence plates – and the time it takes vehicles to travel between two set locations.
“If you have gotten through that distance in a time that is clearly indicative of speeding, you will receive a ticket,” said Saanich Coun. Colin Plant, who also chairs the CRD Traffic Safety Commision.
The pilot project would be unlike police enforcement or photo radar, which varies in location, because the cameras would be in the same spot all the time. The public would know exactly where they are, and they’d be operating 24/7 – arguably enhancing their deterrent value.
“The idea is not to make people’s lives worse,” said Plant. “The idea is to prevent people from dying, from being permanently disabled, and from people paying higher insurance fees because of poor drivers.”
Some caught speeding on the Malahat Thursday said they thought it could work, while others were less convinced.
“There’s going to be more people saying they’re going to fight that ticket in court, and it’s going to back up the court system,” one woman told CTV News.
Officers on the front lines have open minds about the idea, but think there’s no replacing the personal touch.
“I don’t think anything really has that gotcha factor like being pulled over at the side of the road,” said Const. Andy Dunstan of the Integrated Road Safety Unit.
The idea still needs to get the green light from both the CRD and the province, meaning cameras won’t be shooting any licence plates for at least six months.
