So far this year, Victoria has installed five more vehicle-detection cameras, with two more expected by the end of the year
Overhead cameras recently installed at Victoria intersections have not been put there with the intention of catching drivers who run red lights.
Two types of cameras put up by the city — vehicle-detection and traffic-monitoring devices — are aimed at reducing collisions and assessing traffic flows.
Vehicle-detection cameras can help to manage traffic, for example, by extending the duration of a green light.
So far this year, Victoria has installed five such cameras, with two more expected by the end of the year, bringing the total number in Victoria to 49, the city said.
The cameras cost $20,000 to $30,000 per installation and have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
Four vehicle-detection cameras going up this year are on Gorge Road — at intersections with Balfour Avenue, Washington Avenue, Jutland Road and Bridge Street. Two were installed on Blanshard Street — at Hillside Avenue and at Fort Street — and another is at Douglas Street and Tolmie Avenue.
Traffic-monitoring cameras are set to a low resolution and used to capture congestion and collisions, which helps to adjust traffic flow.
The city said it plans to have seven new traffic-monitoring cameras running by the end of the year. They cost $5,000 to $10,000 per installation and also last 10 to 15 years.
The traffic-monitoring cameras will be at the same Gorge Road locations as the vehicle-detection cameras, as well as three intersections on Blanshard Street — at Hillside Avenue, Caledonia Avenue and Johnson Street — for a total of 22.
Operating costs are minimal once the cameras are up, the city said, and data collected are used for other road-safety initiatives.
Victoria began using traffic-monitoring cameras about 15 years ago as part of a B.C. Transit project that started on Douglas Street to improve the flow of buses and other traffic.
Police do not have access to the cameras, but would seek access to the data for criminal investigations, to investigate collisions or to help find missing people, a Victoria police spokesperson said.