August 21, 2000

PHOTO RADAR AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT DISCUSSION PAPER DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT 
EXTENDED. CHANGES IN ICBC DATA COLLECTION METHODS PRODUCE FAVOURABLE ACCIDENT 
FIGURES.

VANCOUVER - The Attorney General's review of traffic enforcement continues to 
accept public input.  Before releasing their Traffic Services Study Discussion 
Paper for public comment, the commission solicited comments only from entities 
supportive of the government's approach.  It is important that all British 
Columbians speak out against the governments' two ineffective "safety" programs 
which were clearly designed to raise revenue: photo radar and corridor speed 
enforcement.

SENSE executive director Ian Tootill said Monday, "Changes in vehicle crash 
reporting procedures have dramatically reduced the number of reported crashes, 
but not actual crashes. Using highly reliable coroner's motor vehicle fatality 
figures, it is clear that the Motor Vehicle Branch / ICBC figures are not 
tracking all crashes. Photo radar has cost well over a staggering $70 million to 
operate, virtually the same amount in fines (much coming from motorists 
travelling at safe speeds), and didn't even register on the Coroner's motor 
vehicle fatality counts."

SENSE, the only organization to oppose the use of photo radar and the only 
organization to conduct independent critical analysis on photo radar, was not 
asked for input during the initial stages of the traffic services review.   
Systemic reporting problems and carefully chosen statistical methods make the 
governments' claims of their programs saving lives to be about as credible as 
fast ferry accounting.

While supporters of photo radar have previously dismissed many SENSE concerns as 
"nonsense," the traffic services review identified many of the same concerns 
brought forward since the groups formation in 1995.  A detailed 25-page response 
was submitted by SENSE on Friday outlining key concerns, all substantiated with 
extensive independent studies - much of which came from internal ICBC research. 

The SENSE response should eliminate any belief that photo radar has in any way 
been effective in saving lives or that photo radar is cost effective.  Also 
included are graphs of fatalities that clearly show that the introduction of 
photo radar has had no discernible effect in reducing motor vehicle fatalities.  
Of particular importance are pages 11 through 13 of the SENSE response 
explaining the changes in reporting of crashes.

The SENSE response and the original Traffic Services Study Discussion Paper can 
be accessed from the SENSE "NEWS" page on our web site at www.sense.bc.ca

The SENSE response is available at http://www.sense.bc.ca/doc/SENSE_TSSDP.PDF    
The government's discussion paper is available at 
http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/police_services/publications/traffic_study.htm

The deadline for submissions to the Traffic Services Study has been extended 
until Friday August 25th.   e-mail: trafficstudy@ag.gov.bc.ca fax: (250) 387-
0103, or mail: P.O. Box 9206 STN PROV GOVT, Victoria BC V8W 9J1.