The Halifax District RCMP Traffic Unit will be using new traffic surveyors to increase road safety in Halifax Regional Municipality.
The equipment surveys the speed of each vehicle that passes, as well as the date, time and direction of travel. The traffic surveyors do not collect images or any identifying information about vehicles or occupants. The Halifax District Traffic Unit will analyze the data collected by the surveyors and use it to deploy resources where they are most needed, in order to best serve our communities.
"The traffic surveyors will give us information to help target our resources and have the greatest affect on road safety," says Cpl. Murray Smith, supervisor for the Halifax District RCMP Traffic Unit.
In the RCMP coverage areas with Halifax Regional Municipality, there are approximately 2,000 motor vehicle collisions each year, which result in 300 injuries and 16 fatalities. Analyzing traffic patterns and behaviours is an important first step in addressing this.
The Halifax District RCMP Traffic Unit consists of five members and is designed to enhance and focus operations related to Traffic Safety, Education and Enforcement throughout the District. The priority of the unit is, but not limited to, the four causal factors of serious injuries and fatalities on our highways which are aggressive driving, occupancy restraints, impaired driving and distracted driving.
Video - New technology to increase road safety in Halifax Regional Municipality
New technology to increase road safety in Halifax Regional Municipality - Transcript
[Music playing]
(Footage of collision scene at night with flashing lights.)
Text on screen: 2,000 people killed, 165,000 injured on screen
>> Voice of Cpl. Lisa Croteau: Each year in Canada, approximately 2,000 people are killed, and a further 165,000 are injured on our roadways.
(Footage of Cpl. Murray Smith at a traffic stop.)
(Footage of damaged car being pulled on to flatbed tow truck.)
(Footage of person walking away from police car with lights on at collision scene.)
(Footage of emergency vehicles with lights flashing arriving at a collision scene.)
>> Voice of Cpl. Lisa Croteau: In RCMP coverage areas within the Halifax Regional Municipality, there are approximately 2,000 motor vehicle collisions each year, resulting in approximately 300 injuries and 16 fatalities.
(Footage of car turning left at a snow-covered intersection.)
(Footage of cars driving on roadway.)
(Footage of an RCMP car.)
(Aerial footage of collision scene on highway.)
(Footage of collision scene at night.)
(Footage of Cpl. Murray Smith at a traffic stop.)
(Footage of the front of an unmarked police car with lights flashing.)
>> Voice of Cpl. Lisa Croteau: In 2018, Halifax Regional Municipality began working with stakeholders, including the RCMP, to develop its strategic road safety plan. This plan aims for a 20% reduction in fatal and injury collisions within five years. The RCMP is committed to playing a key role in achieving this goal.
(Cpl. Murray Smith appears on screen inside his office.)
>> Cpl. Murray Smith: Regularly, members of the public express concerns about what they see as problematic traffic areas, intersections, and the need for increased police presence. However, because we can't be everywhere at once, we need to use our resources strategically. To help us do this, the Halifax District RCMP has acquired two traffic survey devices. These devices will be periodically placed throughout the RCMP's coverage areas in locations where potential traffic issues have been reported.
(Cpl. Murray Smith appears on screen next to police car.)
(Footage of Cpl. Murray Smith conducting a traffic stop.)
>> Cpl. Murray Smith: Aggressive driving is one of the top four causal factors of collisions on Nova Scotia roads, and the RCMP is committed to making our roadway safe. This equipment will allow us to collect accurate and quantitative information so that we can analyze it and then deploy our resources to have the most beneficial impact on traffic safety. The equipment will be used in all RCMP coverage areas within the HRM. Exact locations will be determined by public complaints of traffic issues, as well as police observations of traffic patterns in given areas.
(Cpl. Murray Smith appears on screen inside office.)
>> Cpl. Murray Smith: They will record the date, time, place, direction of travel and speed of all traffic movement.
We will then analyze this data and look for traffic patterns, which will help us identify and efficiently respond to dangerous driving patterns in the community. These are not traffic cameras, and they don't allow us to identify anyone. They are merely raw data collectors designed to assist us in our goal of keeping our community safe.
(Screen fades to black)
(RCMP signature: Royal Canadian Mounted Police / Gendarmerie royale du Canada)
(RCMP copyright: © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 2019.)
(Canada wordmark)