Photo radar gets thumbs-up in CAA survey

Most Manitobans support the use of automated traffic cameras to enforce speed limits, new polling suggests.

Sixty-five per cent of drivers recently surveyed for a CAA Manitoba poll said they support the use of automatic speed enforcement cameras.

CAA Manitoba commissioned DIG Insights to conduct two polls — one on speeding and dangerous driving and the other on distracted driving — in March and February, respectively.

“Speeding continues to be a significant problem in Manitoba and according to our survey, automatic speed enforcement… can be part of the solution,” said Ewald Friesen, spokesperson for CAA Manitoba.

“Manitobans widely believe — 71 per cent of us — that (cameras) can help deter speeding and slow drivers down. There is also, generally, support for the use of (speed cameras).”

He noted 80 per cent of those polled support the use of automated speed cameras near schools, in particular.

Friesen said photo enforcement should accompany other tools to rein in speeders, such as signs that advise it’s a photo-enforced area, traffic calming measures such as speed humps and education programs.

“We are of the opinion that photo radar should not be used as a revenue-generating tool; it should be used as a tool that slows people down on the roads,” said Friesen. “Posted speed limits are there for a reason.”

In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford has criticized the use of automated speed cameras as a “revenue source,” and is considering changes to how the devices are deployed.

In Manitoba, there have been hints the provincial government will change legislation on photo enforcement.

The Winnipeg Police Service has been pushing for years to get its antiquated equipment updated. The technology used in its cameras is obsolete.

In a recent report to city council, the police service said “progress” has been made on getting legislation changed to allow for the use of modern technology.

Currently, Winnipeg is the only municipality in the province where photo radar is permitted.

“There is, of course, vocal and somewhat heated debate on the use of photo radar in the province. We understand this, obviously, but… there is support,” said Friesen. “That struck us as something noteworthy.”

CAA’s distracted driving poll found wide concern — 88 per cent of those polled — about the issue, while 46 per cent of those surveyed admitted to driving while distracted at times.

Manitoba Public Insurance recently said distracted driving is the No. 1 cause of fatal collisions in the province, Friesen noted.

The speeding and dangerous driving was conducted online March 7 to 19. It surveyed 500 Manitoba drivers 18 or older. Based on the sample size of n=500 and with a confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for that research is plus or minus three per cent.

The firm’s distracted driving survey was conducted online from Feb. 11 to 21 with 506 drivers. Based on the sample size of n=506 and with a confidence level of 95 per cent, the margin of error for the distracted driving research is plus-or-minus three per cent.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca