Both a red light camera and speed camera will keep a close eye on drivers through the Aulds Rd. and Island Hwy. intersection. Dom Abassi/NanaimoNewsNOW

By Spencer Sterritt

Need for Speed

Speed camera added to crash-heavy north Nanaimo intersection

May 7, 2019 | 3:30 PM

NANAIMO — Drivers will soon be doubly watched when they pass through a busy and accident-prone intersection in Nanaimo’s north end.

A speed camera is being added to the intersection of Aulds Rd. and the Island Hwy., which already has a red-light camera. Thirty-five speed cameras are being added to intersections already monitored by red-light cameras.

The Aulds Rd. camera is the only one being added on Vancouver Island.

Stats from ICBC show an average of 54 crashes occurred in the intersection a year between 2013 and 2017.

violent incident

Bear spray & tire iron used in parking space dispute at Nanaimo mall

5h ago

orphaned whale

Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island

6h ago

expect delays

Paving begins along Terminal Ave. in downtown Nanaimo

6h ago

“We have a record number of crashes happening-more than 900 a day in our province,” public safety minister Mike Farnworth said in a release.

“It works…and we want people to travel through these busy intersections to get where they’re going safely.”

The Aulds Rd. and Island Hwy. Intersection isn’t the most dangerous in Nanaimo, however.

Previous ICBC data from the red light camera at Norwell Dr. and the Island Hwy. showed there was an average of 68 crashes a year, more of which resulted in injuries than at Aulds Rd.

The Ministry of Public Safety said key factors determining which intersections received the speed camera upgrade included the prevalence of speeding, potential to reduce collisions and technical considerations.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @nanaimonewsnow