Speed cameras installed north of Kamloops, but don’t expect fines

The province is tracking drivers north of Kamloops with speed cameras as part of a new pilot project.

It’s part of an effort to make the North Thompson highway corridor safer as the Ministry of Transportation studies speeds and driver behaviour, according to a news release.

Regional politicians have lobbied the province in recent years to address safety concerns in the area, sounding alarms over a rash of fatal collisions. It prompted the province to take some action on Highway 5, which consists almost entirely of single-lane traffic and some passing lanes.

The cameras will record vehicle speeds on the route between Kamloops and Avola, and drivers will see signage that notifies them of the data collection zone. According to the ministry, it’s anonymized then deleted once no longer needed.

In 2024, the province invested $2.2 million on a Commercial Vehicle and Safety Enforcement pullout near Barriere. It also announced intentions to install the new speed cameras that spring. Two years later, they’re now operating.

While the cameras aren’t used for speed enforcement, BC has been moving toward more photo radar speed enforcement in recent years as provinces like Alberta and Ontario pull back.

The Lower Mainland saw more than two dozen installed in 2019 and, five years later, a survey also found a majority of British Columbians were in favour of speed cameras.