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Google Maps Adding Photo Radar Warnings For Drivers In Canada (huffingtonpost.ca)

Posted by BeauHD on from the heads-up dept.

Google Maps is warning drivers in Canada as they approach some photo radar camera locations. "The feature, which is currently being rolled out by Google, allows users to see speed limits, speed cameras and mobile speed cameras on the map before they leave," reports HuffPost Canada. "It also gives a verbal warning -- an automated voice saying 'speed camera ahead' -- when drivers are near a fixed speed camera." From the report: Police in Calgary say the feature is useful to them. "The biggest thing we love ... is we place those (cameras) by collision statistics," said Sgt. Joerg Gottschling of the Calgary Police Service traffic section. "If we do a new site, if we are going to install a new camera, the next site is always selected by the next highest crash site. "Our intersection locations are all determined where we are trying to eliminate collisions."

Gottschling said they've had up to a 50 per cent reduction in collisions in some areas where those cameras are stationed. With Google Maps, he noted, all drivers approaching the fixed camera intersection get the warning. "That camera is only facing one way," said Gottschling. "Let's say it's only facing northbound, but you can approach southbound or eastbound ... you are still going to get Google telling you caution. "So you're going to go slowly and cautiously through there which, lo and behold, is actually what we want." Google said in an email that there will also be an ability for android users to report mobile speed cameras and stationary cameras.

5 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Calgary cops are AOK by ghoul · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It seems they are interested in reducing collisions not in increasing revenue.

    --
    **Life is too short to be serious**
    1. Re: Calgary cops are AOK by c6gunner · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Nope, what I'm going to be doing is looking at my speedometer instead of the road because that's what they've trained me to do.

      If you are incapable of monitoring your speedometer and the road at the same time, you shouldn't be on the road in the first place. Go take a drivers ed course so they can teach you how to properly scan dash, road, and mirrors.

  2. Re:Traffic cameras to reduce number of collisions? by SlaveToTheGrind · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Literally came here to say, "I can't wait for the usual cynics to come out of the bushes and moan about how the police must be lying that they actually want to reduce collisions because We All Know it's about the money" -- and lo and behold you were already here.

  3. Re:Traffic cameras to reduce number of collisions? by Richard_at_work · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Entirely depends on your jurisdiction, and in many places the local police do not get the income from cameras, so those jurisdictions tend to use them as they should be used.

    Not every country does it like the US, where traffic police are seen as a revenue source by their management.

  4. show the accident data? by hawguy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Maybe Google should just cut out the middleman and show the accident data directly so drivers know which intersections are the most dangerous.