Photo radar: Effective & efficient traffic safety tool

The Government of Alberta’s Dec. 2 announcement about changes to municipalities’ use of photo radar in their communities met with mixed reviews from regular Albertans and key stakeholders, including mayors, councillors, police chiefs, and Alberta Municipalities.

The provincial government intends to reduce the number of photo radar sites in Alberta by 70 per cent, from about 2,200 to around 650, to ensure photo radar is used as a traffic safety tool and not as a revenue generator. All the current photo radar sites will be reviewed, and any that are deemed ineffective or located outside of construction, playground, and school zones will be removed from the approved provincial list. The changes will come into effect on April 1, 2025.

The use of photo radar on all numbered provincial highways will be prohibited. Photo radar may only be used on local roadways that pass through designated playgrounds, school zones and construction sites. Intersection cameras may only be used to capture images of vehicles that fail to stop at red lights. Municipalities will be able to request additional photo radar sites from the provincial government, but approval will be based on proof that enforcement is needed at the requested location.

For its part, Alberta Municipalities supports the continued use of automated traffic enforcement, including photo radar, by local governments in Alberta. Decades of traffic safety research shows that photo radar helps decrease motor vehicle collisions, thereby reducing deaths, injuries, and property damage. It also plays a role in keeping auto insurance rates down and encouraging safer driving.

Photo radar use and the revenue it generates are limited. Of Alberta’s 344 municipalities, only 24 currently use photo radar. Many of these municipalities reinvest revenue generated by photo radar fines into policing and traffic and community safety initiatives. The revenue generated from fines does not make up a significant portion of any municipality’s budget.

In some instances, photo radar is the best and safest traffic safety enforcement option. Photo radar is often used at high-risk locations where the safety of citizens, police officers or peace officers would be at risk through conventional enforcement methods.