The majority of British Columbians are in favour of some kind of speed cameras being deployed across the province.
In a survey conducted by Research Co., 68% of residents would accept the use of either speed-on-green cameras or red-light cameras that capture vehicles speeding through intersections.
That figure, however, is down by two points when compared to a similar survey conducted in August 2018 (when 70% approved).
Earlier this year, the BC government announced that 35 red-light cameras across the province will begin capturing vehicles speeding through intersections in the summer.
The tickets are sent to the owner of the vehicle and – because the driver cannot be identified – there are no driver’s licence points issued.
The cameras being employed to catch speeders in the summer are in 14 municipalities across the province, including: Abbotsford, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Kelowna, Langley, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver.
According to the Research Co. survey, support for the speed-on-green cameras is highest among women (74%) and people aged 55 and over (76%).
“Seven-in-ten British Columbians who do not drive (72%) are in favour of relying on speed-on-green cameras,” explained Mario Canseco, president of Research Co.
“In addition, about three-in-five residents who drive five days a week or more (66%), three or four times a week (74%) and once or twice a week (64%) are also in favour of this measure.”
Meanwhile, 52% of BC residents approve of point-to-point speed enforcement (where two or more cameras at different points measure a vehicle’s average speed).
A majority of 69% approve of fixed-speed cameras (which are fixed in one point and measure a vehicle’s speed as it passes) and 63% approve of mobile speed cameras.
For the survey, which was conducted between June 22 and June 29, 800 adults in BC were questioned.
