Drivers who run red lights could have their pictures taken more often under a new plan to put digital cameras at B.C. intersections.
The Insurance Corporation of B.C. and the provincial government have started to explore a plan to upgrade their film cameras and get more cameras to rotate through 120 monitored intersections.
"The program has been effective in reducing the number of crashes, and in particular reducing the number of crashes at those locations," said ICBC spokesman Doug McClelland.
"We see savings on our claim costs," he said. "Our investment pays for itself."
It's not clear yet how many cameras will be added or how much they will cost.
Right now 30 cameras rotate through 120 intersections across B.C. that have been fitted with boxes to monitor traffic.
In 2006, the cameras brought in $2.6 million in ticket revenue. The camera program costs about $1.9 million per year.
When a car enters the intersection, a flash will go off whether or not there is a camera inside, said McClelland.
"It's not limited to tickets -- this is to change behaviour in general," he said.
The total crashes have dropped some six per cent since the program began in 1999, and the tickets issued have dropped 35 per cent between 2001 and 2005.
Ian Tootill of Safety by Education Not Speed Enforcement says the cameras cause more rear enders than they solve.
A study by the city of Regina found accidents rose by 12 per cent at intersections where red light cameras were installed.
"It causes people to do unexpected things if the cameras are there," said Tootill.
