Street racers renew debate about photo radar in Ontario
TORONTO, Ont. — A series of well-publicized arrests involving street racers has some groups renewing calls to return photo radar to Ontario highways.
The Canada Safety Council and Hamilton Police Chief Brian Mullan are among those who would like to see photo radar vans returning to roadsides in Ontario.
“As a tool for police in this community, and communities across the province, I would love to see, and have asked to see, photo radar brought back in,” Mullan told the Toronto Star.
The provinces road fatality rate has climbed this year to 191 compared to 153 the same time last year.
“If you look at the incidences of the terrible crashes on the 400-series of highways in Ontario, obviously the need is there,” Emile Therien, past-president of the Canada Safety Council also told the Star.
The renewed calls for photo radar came the same day the province announced it would limit truck speeds to 105 km/h in Ontario. They also follow rash of street racing incidents which have resulted in the deaths and injuries of the racers themselves and innocent drivers, including a trucker killed on Hwy. 400 in June.
Photo radar was introduced in the province in 1994, but was overwhelmingly unpopular among Ontarians.
“It was politics, not safety, that removed it,” said Therien.
– With files from the Toronto Star
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