| durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, November 3, 2022 | 12 CURBSIDE BATTERY COLLECTION Place your sealed battery bag on top of your 'papers' blue box on your scheduled collection day. November 7 to 11 durham.ca/battery If you require this information in an accessible format, please contact 1-800-667-5671. While it's too early to make conclusive findings, initial data indicates that the region's red-light and speed enforcement cameras are having a positive effect on traffic safety, according to a report to Durham's police services board. The initiatives are controlled by the region's traffic engineering office and are in operation in locations throughout the municipality, said the report by Durham police Insp. Cyril Gillis. Gillis said that more data is needed to draw solid conclusions, but early indicators are encouraging. "It is much too early in the program to say for certain that the Region of Durham Automated Enforcement Camera Program has resulted in collision reductions; however, the preliminary data was positive," Gillis reported. The report also notes that the program was initiated at a time when traffic levels were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic: "The program was implemented near the start of the pandemic and collision frequency dropped precipitously. As a result, it is difficult to associate any collision reduction with the installation of the camera systems," Gillis wrote. That said, preliminary findings indicate collisions are down in areas controlled by the technology, the report says. The data show 83 collisions at sites with red-light cameras in 2021, a reduction of 10 or 11 per cent from 2019, before the cameras were installed. Similarly, there has been an average speed reduction of 8.5 km/h in areas where cameras monitoring speed have been installed. Speed cameras resulted in charges to nine out of every 1,000 vehicles passing the site, the report notes. The report indicates that the cameras have resulted in an issuance of 2,564 tickets for red-light infractions and 35,324 speeding tickets. Speaking to the police services board on Thursday, Insp. Rob Bryan said the preliminary stats, though sparse, are positive. "They don't have enough data yet, but the information is that it is having a positive influence on collisions in the region," he said. CAMERAS MAY BE HELPING TO REDUCE NUMBER OF COLLISIONS: REPORT JEFF MITCHELL jmitchell@ durhamregion.com NEWS Police are encouraged by early data that indicates that photo radar and red-light cameras may be cutting down collisions in Durham. Ryan Pfeiffer/Metroland Toronto police are searching for a Brock Township man who allegedly skipped out on a court appearance. David Johnson was charged with robbery and mischief interference with the enjoyment of property after a woman using an ATM in the Broadview and Danforth avenues area of Toronto was robbed by a man armed with a knife, Toronto police said. While fleeing, the suspect jumped down to track level at a TTC subway station, causing the service to be temporarily halted, police noted. The robbery took place on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. On Friday, June 10, Johnson was arrested, and he was released from court with conditions. Toronto police now say he contravened his conditions by not returning on his court date. The 54-year-old is now wanted on a bench warrant and a surety warrant. Anyone with information is asked to contact their local police service, the Toronto police at 416- 808-5500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222- TIPS (8477) or at www.222tips.com. TORONTO POLICE SEARCHING FOR SUNDERLAND MAN CRIME DAVID JOHNSON Toronto Police photo