Installed by the city, and in use for more than a decade in Victoria, cameras atop streetlights stand out to some road users – particularly at intersections with new infrastructure such as Fort Street where it meets Oak Bay Avenue.
There are two types of traffic cameras residents might notice at intersections in the city – detection and traffic monitoring.
The first detects vehicles to control traffic signal operation in a bid to allow more efficient operation for road users. If it recognizes a long line of vehicles, the equipment has the ability to extend a green light; if it doesn’t perceive vehicles, it won’t. This enables a more efficient operation for all road users.
The equipment ranges in price from $20,000 to $30,000 per location to install, with an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
Traffic monitoring cameras allow city staff to monitor congestion issues, construction site set-ups, collisions and other operations to adjust and improve safety or traffic flow. They are set to a low resolution and do not capture personal information such as identifiable images of individuals or licence plates. The less costly traffic cameras are $5,000 to $10,000 per location to install, with an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
Victoria currently uses 47 vehicle detection cameras and 15 traffic monitoring cameras.
“All major signalized intersections are potential candidates for these cameras as we upgrade our infrastructure over time,” a city spokesperson said.
Traffic count data is stored on the city’s internal database. Police have no access to either camera, the city assures.
