Red Light Cameras in Thunder Bay

June 2021 Update

At their June 14, 2021 meeting, City Council rejected the proposal of a Red Light Camera Program at ten intersections in Thunder Bay where collisions have been caused by red light running.

Thank you to all who participated in the online survey regarding red light cameras in Thunder Bay. Your input is very valued.

Background Information

In a typical red-light-running collision scenario, a vehicle entering the intersection on a green light is hit on its left or right side by a vehicle that has run the red light on the perpendicular street. This is called a "right-angle collision".

In Ontario, the most serious traffic collisions often involve right-angle collisions, typically caused by red light running. Since 1998, red light cameras have become a useful tool to stop red light running. Currently, 12 municipalities in Ontario have installed red light cameras. Studies show that cities using red light cameras have a 25%+ reduction in right-angle collisions.

Drivers involved in collisions related to red light running are more likely to experience severe injuries than those in other type of roadway collisions. In the City of Thunder Bay, the right-angle collision accounts for only 5% of the vehicle collisions but causes 15.3% of the collision fatalities.

A Red Light Camera Program in the City of Thunder Bay would cost an estimated $875,000 per year. The fine for a traffic violation captured on a red light camera is $325, with no demerit points. Revenue from the fines could be put towards the Program’s operating costs. In addition to this cost coverage, expected additional revenue is estimated between at $500,000 - $1.2 million per year.

Thunder Bay Police Service supports installing red light cameras in the city to improve safety.

Key Facts

• Improving road safety is one of the Cornerstone Action Items of Thunder Bay's Transportation Master Plan

Red light running

• Red light running is defined as a vehicle entering an intersection after the traffic signal has turned red
  
  
• According to Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, as long as you enter the intersection on a green light, you will not be charged for turning left on a red
  
  
• Highway Traffic Act charges for running a red light account for 0.8% of all charges by police, but fatalities directly related to red light running account for 26% of all roadway fatalities in Ontario

Red light cameras

• Twelve Ontario municipalities currently use red light cameras (RLCs)
  
  
• In 2018 there were 336 RLCs in Ontario, and five other Canadian provinces were also using RLCs
  
  
• No municipal employee or local police officer has access to the RLC photos; all RLC photos are sent to the Joint Municipal Red Light Camera Processing Centre (JPC) in Toronto, where a select group of officers reviews all RLC photos in Ontario.
  
  
• The fine for an RLC-captured violation is $325; no demerit points are added to a driver’s licence
  
  
• Total operating cost of RLCs in Thunder Bay would be $875,000 per year
  
  
• Because the RLC program would generate revenue, the revenues could be used to cover the costs of the program. In addition to the cost coverage, there is expected additional revenue available estimated between $500,000 to $1.2 million per year.

Collision statistics

• Annually, there are over 2,000 vehicle collisions on roads within the City of Thunder Bay, including an average of 2-3 fatal vehicle collisions and 230 non-fatal but serious vehicle collisions
  
  
• Over the last 10 years, there have been 24,924 vehicle collisions in the City of Thunder Bay. Of that number:
  • 52 collisions have been fatal
  • 16 of the fatalities have been in intersections
  • 8 of the fatalities have been caused by red light running
    
    
• Over the last 10 years, there have been 1,269 right-angle collisions in Thunder Bay, equalling 5% of all collisions over 10 years
  • Red light running accounts for 15.3% of fatal vehicle collisions in Thunder Bay
  • Therefore, the right-angle collision accounts for only 5% of the vehicle collisions but accounts for 15.3% of the fatalities

We value your feedback! Please complete the survey below. If you have additional comments or prefer to mail, phone or email, please contact:

David Binch - Traffic Technologist
Engineering Division - City of Thunder Bay
Victoriaville Civic Centre
111 Syndicate Ave S
PO Box 800
Thunder Bay, ON P7C 5K4
Tel: (807) 625-2265
Email: david.binch@thunderbay.ca