Cameras put dent in speeding

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(WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS )

WINNIPEG — They've been the focus of anger from speeding motorists caught in their snare, created legal controversy -- and even sparked calls for Justice Minister Dave Chomiak's resignation.

But new statistics to be released today show photo-radar cameras in construction zones have made a dramatic dent in the number of drivers exceeding the speed limit.

"In one year we've had a positive behavioural change," Winnipeg police traffic unit Sgt. Doug Safioles said. "It shows that we don't care about the money. We're way down on tickets."

The data are based on police tracking of the number of speeders photographed in 2008 and in the first few months of this year's construction-zone enforcement program.

Safioles said the drop is best reflected in the number of tickets issued per 1,000 vehicles monitored by the photo-radar units at the Bishop Grandin bridge construction site this April and May compared to April and May 2008.

Last year, 115 vehicles per 1,000 were clocked for speeding by the cameras; in the same period this year only nine vehicles per 1,000 were tagged.

The statistics also show that drivers are passing through reduced-speed 60-kilometre-per-hour construction zones a lot slower now than they were last year. When the enforcement campaign began a year ago, speeds averaged about 74 km/h. The average is now 58 km/h.

"What we've seen is a dramatic reduction in offences," Safioles said. "People are compliant now. They get it. No matter how you explain the numbers, people are slowing down."

The slowdown also comes after the debate over photo radar made headlines throughout the spring as it moved from the courts to the floor of the Manitoba legislature.

Police have made no apologies for enforcing reduced speeds in construction zones -- even on weekends -- because they say it's about making the roads safer not only for construction workers during the week, but other drivers on the weekend.

Police are to release the speeding statistics today. They were compiled after a request from the Free Press. The statistics focus on Bishop Grandin Boulevard because it's the only major construction zone where police could gather data to show speeding trends this year and last.

Safioles said the numbers also show that of the thousands of people who drive through a reduced-speed construction zone, only a small few get a ticket.

"There's lots of outcry, but most people are compliant," he said. "Only 0.1 per cent of vehicles monitored are getting tickets."

The statistics are being released as police step up photo-radar enforcement on McGillivray Boulevard because of a road-widening project between Kenaston Boulevard and Waverley Street. Enforcement continues on Bishop Grandin and on Dugald Road between Lagimodiere Boulevard and Plessis Road.

The hue and cry over speed traps in construction zones erupted in early May when the Crown said it wasn't going ahead with 875 speeding cases because the construction zones did not have the proper signage signalling the end of the zone and a return to the posted speed limit.

Critics said the province should issue refunds to motorists who had already paid fines related to the 60,000 other tickets that were improperly issued.

Chomiak hemmed and hawed for a couple of days before he said there would be no refunds, as payment of a fine was an admission of guilt.

Progressive Conservative justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said Thursday he wants all deployment records for photo radar made public to ensure the public has confidence in the credibility of photo radar.

Goertzen said in a statement he filed a Freedom of Information request for the times and places of photo-radar deployment over the past three years to determine if photo radar is being used to protect workers in construction zones and children during school hours, or if it is mostly being used at construction zones where there are no workers to maximize revenue with no impact on safety.

He said his request was denied.

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 3, 2009 B1