Watch your speed and don't run red lights.

That's the message Transport Quebec is sending to drivers with a new $6.6 million pilot project that will place photo radars at key locations throughout the province.

Locations of cameras

In total, there will be 15 locations in Quebec, and six of those in Montreal:

  • McDougal at the entrance of Le Boulevard and Cedar avenue in Westmount
  • Ste-Catherine east at Iberville
  • Notre-Dame east at the entrance of De Lorimier and Gonthier Ave.
  • University at Notre-Dame west
  • On Highway 15 south, 300 metres before the Atwater exit
  • Decarie north at Pare

The photos will be able to identify the license plate, but not the driver. Therefore, speeding cars or cars that fail to stop for a red light will receive a ticket but no demerit points will be taken off.

The project means that even going 5 km/hr over the speed limit can net drivers a ticket.

Although the project will run for 18 months and start on Aug. 19, there will be a three-month grace period starting on May 19. Warnings will be sent out during this time, but no tickets.

Expectations

The goal of the project is to affect the driving habits on Quebec roads.

"I think we have to look to outside experience because you have almost 70 countries or administrations that have installed speed cameras," said Carl B�langer, spokesperson for Transports Quebec. "One very good example is in France they have reduced their accident fatalities by 43 per cent in the recent years. And they estimate that 43 per cent of this reduction was related to the installation of these cameras."