Council to consider doubling the number of red light cameras

A staff report is pitching Windsor city council a plan to double the number of red light cameras in Windsor as a way to get people driving safer. 

"We're not trying to put them at every single intersection out there. What we're trying to do is just hit those high collision intersections," said Shawna Boakes, Windsor's executive director of operations. 

Early data shows the number of collisions at the 10 intersections with cameras currently installed have dropped since they started operating on January 1, 2022 but does not specify by how much.

The city has handed out more than 11,000 tickets since the cameras were turned on according to the staff report.

Red light tickets cost $325 under the Provincial Offences Act and can be disputed, however the report says that doesn't happen as often as other traffic violations because the evidence is so clear.

Council will look at a report that says adding cameras to other intersections will increase the likelihood drivers will come across a red light camera because it's currently easy to alter a route to avoid the current cameras.

The new cameras would be installed after consultation with Windsor police and a review of city collision data.

Early data on collisions

While the report does not provide specific data around collisions, it does say that the number of side impact collisions at intersections with red light cameras are down and that the number of rear end collisions haven't increased significantly. 

The city will do a full review of the safety data once the cameras have been installed for three years, which is industry standard, according to the report. 

The report shows that the number of tickets has gone up year over year, with 5,318 tickets issued in 2022 and 6,141 tickets issued in 2023.

Combined, the city's net revenue totals just over $1.6-million after expenses on just over $3.7-million in tickets issued at the ten cameras operating right now. 

City council will look at the report during the February 26 meeting of council.

Here's where the red light cameras are in Windsor:

• Wyandotte Street East @ Goyeau
• Wyandotte Street @ Ouellette Avenue
• Howard Avenue @ EC Row E/B Off Ramp
• University Avenue West @ Crawford Avenue
• McHugh Street @ Clover Avenue
• Giles Blvd @ Ouellette Avenue
• Seminole Street @ Central Avenue
• Erie Street East @ Goyeau Street
• Huron Church Road @ Tecumseh Road West
• Eugenie Street East @ McDougall Avenue