Photo radar not coming to P.E.I. roads in the near future, minister suggests

The details of how photo radar will be implemented on Prince Edward Island are still being worked on, with Transportation Minister Ernie Hudson saying there's no target date for when the system might roll out.

As the P.E.I. Legislative Assembly resumed sitting on Tuesday, traffic issues in Cavendish had Rustico-Emerald MLABrad Trivers asking Hudson for help with bad drivers.

Back in 2021, amendments were made to the Highway Traffic Act to enable the use of photo radar, allowing pictures taken by those cameras to be used in court for evidence if necessary.In June2023, Hudson said the technology was almost ready.

Tuesday duringquestion period, Trivers cited residents who say travelling the main street in Cavendishhas become difficult becauseof the high volume of vehicles movingat high speeds. The Progressive Conservative backbencher asked what safety measures his government might consider for the area.

"Safety has to be paramount," Hudson replied, before saying photo radar isstill in the planning stages.

"There are other aspects... that have to be put in place. Just the way the tickets have to be issued [if a] red light traffic violation occurs, it has to be under the Summary Proceedings Act," he said.

The minister said multiple departments are working to get everything in order.

As for the issues in Cavendish, Hudson saidthe department is working to make improvements in other ways, including media campaigns, "urging drivers to exercise their very best judgment, to exercise patience, never drive when you're under the influence of alcohol or any drugs."

He said the department is also working to make P.E.I. bridges and highways as safe as possible.

For example, Hudson cited the recent introduction of aprogram called M.E.L.T. (Mandatory Entry-level Training)for Island residents applying for a commercial Class 1 driver's licence for the first time. That's the category that will allow them to drive large trucks.

They must now "complete entry-level training at a provincially licensed driver training school before attempting a road test," according to the provincial website. It includes 140hours of training plus 100 hours of observation.