Topic: Photo Radar Rears it's Ugly Head (Toronto)

[bmorton]

I'm not sure what the fuss by all the Ontario members of CTC is about, based on the following article.  Note the date:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/07/03/photo-radar.html?ref=rss

Well, McGuinty saying he isn't going to do something doesn't necessarily mean much here in Ontario. So the fuss is not entirely unjustified.

[G0dspd]

A minor point, but I think the purpose of having a fine for exceeding the speed limit is to act as a deterant so drivers will not exceed the limit. If that is the purpose of the fine, I would argue that getting a ticket in the mail up to 2 months after the speeding date acts as NO deterant at all. I believe most photo radar tickets are nothing more than a cash grab, and, in some cases, the equipment supplier shares in the fine revenue generated (at least that is the case for red light cameras).

We had in BC with the NDP, Libs dumped it. Hope it stays gone.

   People don't associate the fine with their driving indiscretions (if they even notice it).  They just read it and b1tch at the province for "stealing" their money. 

IMO they need to take their deterants to the next level and I'm not talking about speed cameras.

[Wolfe]

I agree with Ovr's comment above and I bet that the reintroduction of photo here in Ont. would lead to fewer real police officers out on the highways patrolling for other forms of dangerous driving. Most highway enforcement already targets speeding, however, if the other bad driving habits were eliminated we would probably be able to drive safely at higher speeds. I'm not holding my breath waiting for a general increase in drivers' skills though.

Since photo radar identifies the car rather than the driver are demerit points not applied and would photo radar tickets not be applicable for insurance rates? If not then the speeding tickets would be a road toll, as Sand Man* said, just like the photo tolls on the 407.

*seasonal name change or have you just been listening to a lot of Metallica lately?

[Shemp]

I thought when used on the 401 there was a 20kph buffer zone. It's when you got over 120kph that you could expect a ticket.

[tpl]

I have no problem with Photo radar  set to 140kph on expressways 110 kph on 2 laners and 39.999999 kph in school zones and other 40 km/h places.

Sadly I know that it would also be used at places where a limit drops, as it does now, from 80 to 50 at the start of a village and in true American speed trap fashion would be set to 49.99999 1 metre inside the 50 limit sign.

[99 Silver]

The way to police the speed limit is with officers in their cars.  That is the biggest deterrent in my view as you are dealt with immediately after you speed and all the other drivers can see it also.

A major problem with speed patrols on the 400 series highways around Toronto is that it is unsafe to pull cars over because of the congestion and poor road design.  In many area the shoulders are seriously undersized or non existant.

[dr_spock]

The way to police the speed limit is with officers in their cars.  That is the biggest deterrent in my view as you are dealt with immediately after you speed and all the other drivers can see it also.

A major problem with speed patrols on the 400 series highways around Toronto is that it is unsafe to pull cars over because of the congestion and poor road design.  In many area the shoulders are seriously undersized or non existant.

Perhaps, photo radar might be good for enforcing the lane change or slow down when emergency vehicles are stopped at the side of the road with lights flashing.  Speed limits at construction zones when workers are present.

[quadzilla]

I have no problem with Photo radar  set to 140kph on expressways 110 kph on 2 laners and 39.999999 kph in school zones and other 40 km/h places.

I would be ok with this.  I would still have to slow down in certain sections/times 

[safristi]

"UGLY HEAD!!".........phew it's NOT ME but Photy Radar.......

[50362]

I guess I'm arrogant.  Enjoy the pics of mine above.

A BMW diesel flat out. Ok.  I would do that as well on an Autobahn where I would be sure that everyone around me understood that 150mph is a reasonable speed.
My 330 without the speed limiter set in NA would do that as well but I am not sure that anyone else in south western Ont would look in their mirror often enough to see me coming.

That's funny because that is exactly what you have to do over there. Check the rear mirror very often for Porsche, Ferarri ect. At times the flow of traffic was around 160 km/h. What ever happened to Ontario's "keep right except to pass signs"?

I've racked up about 4,000 k there and have never come across a collision just lots of traffic in Munich and Frankfurt. 

I took this picture on the A3 in Frankfurt. This is something Canada should look at doing in busy cities.
Depending on traffic or weather conditions the speed limit on this sign can be changed to suit the conditions. As well, note the smaller signs, the sign of the car and truck.  During heavy congestion the truck symbol can be changed to red indicating trucks can not use left lanes at all.  How many of us would like to see this on the 401 during rush?

Heading there again in two weeks for 3 week vacation. Reserved the 3 series.

[quadzilla]

I took this picture on the A3 in Frankfurt. This is something Canada should look at doing in busy cities.
Depending on traffic or weather conditions the speed limit on this sign can be changed to suit the conditions. As well, note the smaller signs, the sign of the car and truck.  During heavy congestion the truck symbol can be changed to red indicating trucks can not use left lanes at all.  How many of us would like to see this on the 401 during rush?

What good are signs if nobody obeys them?  Everybody (on this board) knows the real problem is lack of driver education and discipline. How many times have you had somebody that just had to pull out in front of you even though they are going slower and there isn't a single car behind you?  I can't ride (bicycle) a single day without having to b!tch somebody out for driving in the bike lane. Jeepers, they already have 4 lanes for cars and I only get 2 feet if I'm lucky and they still have to drive in my lane.

[50362]

I guess I'm arrogant.  Enjoy the pics of mine above.

Nice pics...in an oil burner no less.   

Passenger take the pictures?  The safety police might come knocking if not...  

Oil burner, yes. loads of power...too much power. It was a 530d 3.0 inline six.

Your other question.  Ahh, no comment.

[50362]

I took this picture on the A3 in Frankfurt. This is something Canada should look at doing in busy cities.
Depending on traffic or weather conditions the speed limit on this sign can be changed to suit the conditions. As well, note the smaller signs, the sign of the car and truck.  During heavy congestion the truck symbol can be changed to red indicating trucks can not use left lanes at all.  How many of us would like to see this on the 401 during rush?

What good are signs if nobody obeys them?  Everybody (on this board) knows the real problem is lack of driver education and discipline. How many times have you had somebody that just had to pull out in front of you even though they are going slower and there isn't a single car behind you?  I can't ride (bicycle) a single day without having to b!tch somebody out for driving in the bike lane. Jeepers, they already have 4 lanes for cars and I only get 2 feet if I'm lucky and they still have to drive in my lane.

Totally agree with you. It's lack of driver education. On Toronto roads and highways it's a free for all. No road/ lane discipline what so ever.

I always say, people do everything in there cars except drive. We need enforcement for that instead of pulling over people for doing 20k over the limit.

I guess this is why we have the TV show Canada's Worst Driver. We should be ashamed.

Earlier this year I heard that in a survey Canadians rank 4th from the bottom for the worlds worst drivers. I believe it.

[roadrunner]

Before Canada adopted the metric system our highway speeds were 70 mph (correct me if I'm wrong).

120 km/h highway
90 km/h secondary (my choice on secondary highways would be 100km/h).

?

Before the metric system became the rule here, the main highway speed was 70 mph and secondary roads were 60 mph.

[duck]

Photo radar is a load of crap. It's here in Edmonton and  is only harassing hard working citizens. The Gestapo Government is trying to destroy people.