SASKATOON, SK- Canada’s highways are about to have more photo radars as the Quebec Liberal government has promised to triple the number of cameras on Quebec’s roads and the province of Saskatchewan expects to launch a photo radar program of its own.

“We have a pilot project coming up on photo radar,” said Earl Cameron, vice-president of SGI Auto Fund at the Saskatchewan Trucking Association’s annual conference held in Saskatoon in October.

“Photo radar is probably one of the most polarizing traffic safety issue. Half the people think it’s good and the other half say they don’t like it,” Cameron said.

Some folks complain that photo radars are hidden and a money grab, not actually meant to improve safety. But whether they’re popular or not, the Liberal government announced earlier this month that they’ll triple the number of photo radars snapping pictures of speeding vehicles in Quebec, from 18 to 56 cameras.

Quebec Transportation Minister Robert Poeti said the new cameras will be clearly labeled and in places where they’re needed to improve safety.

Cameron said that in Saskatchewan, they’ve learned from other province’s mistakes.

“The [photo radars] will be in fixed locations, so they won’t be hiding around the corner or in high speed corridors,” he said.

Cameron also said the radars will be clearly labeled with large signs.

But while the province of Saskatchewan originally planned to have eight photo radars installed by mid-October, the project has been delayed and only one camera will be installed by the end of the month, according to reports.

Possible location for photo radar in Saskatchewan:

• Highway 1 and 9th Avenue in Moose Jaw;
• Ring Road in Regina;
• Circle Drive in Saskatoon;
• Highway 12 at Martensville;
• Highway 1 East between Pilot Butte and White City;
• At selected school zones in Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw.