According to the most recent ICBC statistics, approximately 60% of all accidents in BC occur at intersections. Accidents at intersections are often the most serious because they include head-on and side-impact crashes. Our ICBC lawyers have previously discussed the most notoriously accident-prone intersections in Vancouver, BC. ICBC’s website has an interactive crash map which shows the alarming prevalence of accidents at intersections throughout BC.
Red-Light Cameras at Intersections in BC In recognition of the risk, the BC government, the police, and ICBC developed the Intersection Safety Camera (“ISC”) program in 1999 which saw 30 film cameras installed at 120 sites throughout BC. In 2011, the ISC program was expanded to 140 sites and upgraded to implement digital cameras at each location. The cameras detect and photograph vehicles running a red light and issue a violation ticket, the goal being to reduce accidents at intersections by discouraging drivers from running red lights. The 140 sites currently equipped with digital red-light cameras have been identified as the highest-risk intersections. (If you are curious, ICBC has made available on its website a map of where the cameras are located.) Speed Identified as a Factor in Accidents at Intersections Between 2012 and 2016 the ISC program red-light cameras also conducted speed monitoring at all 140 BC locations, which showed that between 2012 and 2016, 17% (120 million) of the almost 700 million vehicles annually travelling through the intersections were speeding. Monitoring data also showed that an average of 84 accidents happened at each ISC site each year. Speed was a top contributing factor in those accidents, with an average of 10,500 vehicles going at least 30 km/h over the posted speed limit at each ISC site annually. Using Technology to Crack Down on Speeding at Intersections In response to the high number of speed-related accidents at intersections, the BC government plans to upgrade the existing red-light camera program to identify and ticket speeding vehicles. In the coming months, analysis of accident and speed data will inform decisions about activating ISC cameras for automated speed enforcement and new signs will warn approaching drivers about this enhanced intersection enforcement. The BC government has not yet decided what speed over the limit will trigger a violation ticket, nor has it announced when the automated speeding tickets will begin being issued. Is Automated Ticketing “Radar 2.0”? Critics of the plan to use red-light cameras for automated speed enforcement point out that it is very similar to photo radar, the controversial program the BC government scrapped in 2001 after a barrage of court challenges. The now-defunct photo radar program used unmarked police vans in random locations, issuing tickets at low speeding thresholds and tying up police resources by having two officers in each van. The BC government insists that its plan is not “Radar 2.0” and points out that the new approach is more transparent than the photo radar program as the public will know where the enhanced speed cameras are. ICBC Lawyers Discuss Other Factors in Intersection Accidents The goal of the red-light camera program is to prevent intersection accidents and injuries by deterring red light runners. The BC government’s plan to use the red-light cameras as automated speed cameras also seeks to reduce injuries and fatalities caused by speeding at intersections. While these measures may reduce the overall number of crashes, accidents will unfortunately continue to occur. The personal injury lawyers at Bronson Jones & Company LLP know that failing to yield the right-of-way, distracted driving, and inattention are also top factors in intersection accidents. Whether you are a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian injured as a result of an accident at an intersection, contact our team of ICBC lawyers at 1-855-852-5100 for a free initial consultation to discuss your options and entitlement to personal injury compensation. Legal Guidance & More, from Injury to Recovery Bronson Jones & Company LLP exclusively represents victims of motor vehicle accidents, and that’s all we do! Unlike other law firms which deal with everything from dog bites to divorce, Bronson Jones has built more than 30 years of trial experience and in negotiating fair settlements for clients injured in motor vehicle accidents. We’ve also developed an extensive network of medical and occupational specialists, therapists, rehabilitation specialists, and others to help you recover and deal with the impact of your injury on your physical health, family life, finances and future. Additionally, such reports may be essential in the development of your case. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call any of the 13 Bronson Jones locations in the Lower Mainland for our expertise and advice. All of our cases are handled on a contingency (percentage) basis and you don’t pay until we collect.