British Columbia begins $67M replacement of intersection safety cameras

ICBC has launched a $67 million program to replace all 140 intersection safety cameras across British Columbia with modern equipment from Jenoptik Canada. The replacement process is expected to continue through spring 2027, upgrading aging technology with higher resolution and improved data capabilities at high-risk intersections in regions including Metro Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Nanaimo, and Prince George.

The existing program, which has operated since 1999, monitors red-light violations at all 140 locations, with 35 of those sites also enforcing speed limits. Provincial data indicates that red-light violations have decreased by 13 percent over the last five years, while repeat violations have dropped by 29 percent. At locations where speeding is enforced, drivers traveling more than 25 km/h over the limit have decreased by 52 percent over the past three years.

RoadSafetyBC and local service providers note that the cameras have contributed to a reduction in serious collisions, such as side-impact and pedestrian crashes. While some critics characterize automated enforcement as a revenue-generating measure, proponents point to the documented changes in driver behavior and the reduction in emergency service calls at monitored intersections.