Photo radar success in Quebec: study

A Quebec government study shows photo radar has helped reduce speeding as well as accidents in areas where the cameras were installed.

CBC/Radio-Canada has obtained a preliminary copy of the report by Quebec's Transport Ministry which reports a 30 per cent drop in accidents near Quebec's 15 photo radar sites in Montreal, the Montrgie and the Chaudire-Appalaches region.

The government report is expected to be presented at the National Assembly in Quebec City on Wednesday for further review.

The cameras have been in place for about nine months.

Between 2005 and 2007 there were 40 accidents per month on average near the photo radar sites. The preliminary study shows that number dropped to 26 between February and May 2010,after the cameras were installed.

The number of accidents with injuries has also gone down to six from 10 in the same time periods.

But the former head of road safety for Quebec provincial police, Robert Poeti,warns the results are preliminary and it's too soon to draw any conclusions on the effectiveness of photo radar.

"Sometimes outside circumstances can dramatically change accident rates," said Poeti, givingtheexamples of weather and the number of vehicles on the road.

The study did reveal photo radar has been less successful when installed at red lights because drivers tend to slam on the brakes when they see the cameras and that has actually resulted in more collisions.

8 out of 10 drivers accept photo radar

The study shows the vast majority of Quebecers accept the idea of photo radar.

Driver Jean-Philippe Leblanc said he believes the cameras act as a deterrent for drivers who speed.

"When you seethe photo radar sign,you slow down and you see traffic is slowing down as well," he said.

The study found that60 per cent fewer drivers were caught speeding in the photo radar zones.

In six months the province's Transport minister is expected to decide whether to expand the pilot project and add more cameras across Quebec.