The fixed speed camera installed on the Dufferin-Montmorency highway (A440) since February surprised more than 31,500 speeding motorists, making it the most prolific device in all of Quebec since it was put into operation.
• Read also: Dufferin-Montmorency Highway soon to be an urban boulevard? Opposition parties add their voices to protesters
• Read also: Dufferin-Montmorency highway: citizens want an urban boulevard
In June alone, nearly 9,500 statements of offense were issued by the device located 150 meters from the intersection of boulevard François-De Laval, where the speed limit is 70 km/h.
The photo radar installed on the Dufferin Montmorency highway since February is by far the most effective of all fixed speed cameras in Quebec, with more than 30,000 tickets given in 5 months in Quebec, Thursday July 13, 2023. ILLENIUM. STEVENS LEBLANC/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC/QMI AGENCY)
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
There are therefore a total of 31,560 fines, for a sum of $4,708,150, since its start-up on February 3, according to the most recent figures released by the Department of Justice.
No other fixed radar has been as efficient over this period… And by far.
In Mirabel, the device located 320 meters from Chemin de la Côte Nord on Highway 15 South, and the one at the intersection of Boulevard Charest Ouest and Avenue Saint-Sacrement, in Quebec City, are its two closest “competitors”.
From 1er February to June 30, the first accumulated 25,689 fines for $2,789,953, while the second barely reached 11,903 fines for $1,175,065.
- Listen to the court segment with Félix Séguin broadcast live daily at 8:50 a.m. via :
A falling speed
“It doesn’t make sense, it’s really worrying! This is where you see that the sector is really problematic”, plague Daniel Fortin.
Daniel Fortin, Jackson’s father, who died in the Dufferin-Montmorency accident, for a report on the delays in psychological support for victims of criminal acts or those compensated by the SAAQ in Levis, Thursday the 31st March 2022. STEVENS LEBLANC/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC/AGENCE QMI)
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
His son Jackson Fortin died in the fatal accident which claimed four victims in September 2021 and which is at the origin of the analysis which led to the installation of the radar.
Data provided by the Ministry of Transport show, however, that the average speed decreased by 11% in the right and center lanes and by 5% in the left lane, between January and April.
Despite these figures, Mr. Fortin has refused to take this path since the accident, and he is not the only one.
“We have a lot of citizens who have completely stopped taking this exit because they are anxious and they are afraid. We had another collision this winter at that place, “said Isabelle Roy, councilor for the district of Robert-Giffard.
An exit to be condemned
Mr. Fortin and Mr.me Roy agree that the use of photo radar is good and helps to raise awareness on this stretch, but it is far from enough, they say.
“This intersection should be completely reviewed,” said the bereaved father.
For her part, the Robert-Giffard district councilor continues to believe that the ultimate solution lies in the completion of phase IV of Promenade Samuel-De Champlain and the development of an urban boulevard.
“But we are aware that it will take time. Until then, I believe that the lesser evil would be to condemn this outing, ”says Mme Roy.
Contacted by Le Journal, the minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale, Jonatan Julien, refused to comment on the situation. The office of Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault did not return our calls.
VAT NEWS
The 10 most lucrative fixed speed cameras *
- A440, Quebec: 31,560 tickets / $4,708,150
- A15, Mirabel: 25,689 tickets / $2,789,953
- Boul. Charest, Quebec: 11,903 tickets / $1,175,065
- A40, Charlemagne: 10,599 tickets / $1,131,200
- A15, Laval: 6,226 tickets / $649,664
- A20, Boucherville: 5,342 tickets / $574,300
- A40, Quebec: 4,757 tickets / $515,180
- R-138, Montreal: 4,457 tickets / $495,407
- A20, Pincourt: 4,183 tickets / $488,068
- Boul. Maisonneuve, Gatineau: 4,107 tickets / $370,854
*From 1er February to June 30, 2023
Source: Ministry of Justice
Average speed on the A440**
January
- Right: 78.6 km/h
- Center: 80.1 km/h
- Left: 67 km/h
April
- Right: 69.9 km/h (-11%)
- Center: 71.4 km/h (-11%)
- Left: 63.8 km/h (-5%)
**Across François-De Laval Boulevard
Vehicles that meet or exceed the 70 km/h limit on the A440**
January
- Right: 79%
- Center: 81.5%
- Left: 37.5%
April
- Right: 43.7% (-45%)
- Center: 51.7% (-37%)
- Left: 21.8% (-42%)
**Across François-De Laval Boulevard
Source: Ministry of Transport