Bill 48: CAA-Quebec takes part in special consultations
Always active and committed to improving road safety, CAA-Quebec took part earlier today in the special consultations of Commission des transports et de l’environnement on Bill 48, An Act to amend mainly the Highway Safety Code to introduce provisions relating to detection systems and other highway safety-related provisions.
The organization is grateful for the opportunity to make its voice heard on road safety issues. “Our recommendations are based on more than a century of experience and commitment in the field. We welcome the provincial government’s active steps to improve safety for all road users, including the most vulnerable. We would especially like to remind the government that photo radars remain a tool to be combined with many other measures,” says Sophie Gagnon, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Social Responsibility.
Photo radars: A tool, but not a panacea
In the past, CAA-Quebec has been in favour of detection systems, provided they comply with certain guidelines. It is important to ensure these tools are deployed in an orderly manner, notably by keeping governance at ministerial level. More specifically, it is important to maintain the obligation to analyze the sites covered by these systems and keep them continuously available to the public, as such reporting is a guarantee of transparency and social acceptability.
However, in extending the power to set up these systems to certain municipalities, the government must not forget the purpose of detection systems.
“Photo radars must be used to improve the safety of all road users. Their increased deployment in school or roadwork zones seems justified, provided this is done according to precise and documented criteria.”
—André Durocher, Director, Community Relations and Road Safety
Lastly, it is important not to increase the current 30-day time limit for notification of a violation identified by a detection system. After this period, the deterrent effect of the measure loses its effectiveness and relevance. Moreover, photo radars should not replace a police presence, but rather serve as a complement in areas that are difficult for officers to access.
Administrative measures and drunk driving
CAA-Quebec encourages the government to consider introducing administrative sanctions in the Highway Safety Code for blood alcohol concentrations between 50 mg/100 ml and 80 mg/100 ml. To date, Quebec remains the only province that has not yet adopted administrative sanctions, despite numerous studies that demonstrate their direct impact on vehicle collision statistics.
“There is evidence that imposing administrative sanctions has immediate benefits for the safety of road users,” says Durocher. “We must not compromise on drunk driving, because it is still one of the main causes of road accidents in Quebec and because it destroys lives.”
Improving patroller safety
The most recent changes to the Highway Safety Code included allowing tow truck drivers to use their flashing green lights when responding to an emergency call to improve their visibility and, by the same token, their safety. While this is a concrete step forward, CAA-Quebec urges legislators to consider ways of improving their protection in non-emergency situations, as for all road workers.
“For years, CAA-Quebec has been advocating for better visibility to ensure the safety of its patrollers,” says Sophie Gagnon. “Extending this measure to all service vehicles will increase the range of resources available to strengthen these workers’ sense of safety during their many interventions in the field.”
About CAA-Quebec
CAA-Quebec offers a wide range of assistance services in a wide variety of sectors, drawing on a human approach. As a socially committed organization, CAA-Quebec strives on a daily basis to protect the interests of its members. And in keeping with its values of reliability and benevolence, it fosters responsible consumption and promotes road safety.
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