Quebec photo radar generates $4M

Quebec's photo radar program has generated nearly $4 million in revenue since ticketing began in mid-August.

The busiest of the province's 15 photo radar sites is on Highway 15 in Montreal, near the Atwater exit. That site alone has resulted in close to 8,500 tickets.

The Quebec branch of the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) says it supports the use of photo radar if it improves road safety. But it's still not clear whether the cameras are making the roads any safer, said a CAA spokesperson.

"Right now, we're going to have to wait and see if it will be a good program for Quebec," said Brigitte Roussy. "We have to be sure that safety is improved. We're going to have be sure that behaviours can be changed."

When the project was set up, Quebec's transport minister said the money raised from tickets would go toward a provincial road safety fund. CAA Quebec is still waiting to see whether the money will actually be invested in public awareness campaigns and victim assistance, said Roussy.

Quebec's photo radar pilot project is expected to run until February 2011. But Transport Quebec has plans to review the program after one year and submit a report to the legislature for study.