Making roads safer for children is not a controversial topic, but one Quebec entrepreneur says current laws prevent his company from doing just that.
FxS Canada Inc. specializes in security camera installations for school buses, and recently took part in a pilot project in Ontario to install them on the outside.
The camera would be setup to catch delinquent drivers: texters, speeders or those who fail to stop when a school bus is dropping off children.
Starting January, 2017, Ontario police forces will begin handing out tickets to drivers caught on the school bus cameras.
FxS President Jean Soulière told the Journal de Montreal the system is not automated. His company checks the footage, sends a file to the police who then go over the evidence before handing out any fines.
Souliere said maintaining the human element is an important part of the project.
It's also the part that is keeping the potential road safety measures from coming to Quebec.
According to the Highway Safety Code a police officer can only give a ticket to a driver directly, and not to the owner of a vehicle.
There's also an issue with the province's regulations respecting road vehicles used for the transportation of school children, which does not currently permit a camera to be installed on the side of school buses.
In order for the traffic cameras to be installed both regulations would need to be changed.
Soulière said the cost to taxpayers would be zero, because his company would split revenues from tickets with the police.
He told the newspaper he's already met with the Transport Ministry, police officials and school boards about the idea, but he is still waiting to hear back if the current laws and regulations will be modified.