Buses In Canadian City To Deploy Surveillance Systems

Apr 1, 2008 3:16 PM

           

The success of a bus video surveillance pilot project means cameras could be a feature on all new buses in Saskatoon, Canada.

According to the StarPhoenix, in the summer of 2006, a program began involving the installation of video cameras at the front and rear of city transit buses, as well as a digital sound and recording system.

The surveillance system was installed in an effort to curb violence against bus drivers, vandalism and inappropriate behavior.

Saskatoon Transit wrote a report, which they sent to city hall, saying that it plans to make the camera systems standard for all new buses.

The move is a result of positive feedback from transit operators, heralding the system for providing a sense of security for drivers, for footage to aid investigators of bus crimes and for a reduction in vandalism. There was no negative feedback from transit passengers.

The new system will feature an additional camera, filming the passengers as they enter the bus, in addition to the two cameras filming the aisles as people come and go from their seats.

"I think it's a great idea and I believe it will add a sense of security and comfort for the users," says Counselor Darren Hill.

Counselor Bev Dubois said $100,000 in capital funding has been approved for the project. She hopes some existing buses can also be retrofitted with the equipment.

"It's good to be proactive," she told the StarPhoenix. "Our city is growing every day, so we need to keep up with things like this for the security of our operators and passengers."

In the summer of 2007, a transit passenger was assaulted by a youth who lit the victim's hair on fire at the rear of a bus. There were also two bus drivers assaulted in 2006 -- both were punched in the face.

Before the pilot project began, the union representing drivers conducted an informal survey in Halifax, Hamilton, Mississauga, Saskatoon and Winnipeg, which concluded 35 to 37 percent of drivers have been assaulted on the job.

Counselor Gordon Wyant says he is in full support of the program based on these prior incidents and the effectiveness of the surveillance.

"I do a lot of traveling around and in cities where they've installed surveillance in buses or taxi cabs, it has significantly reduced the amount of crime in those vehicles," he says. "We now know that it's a deterrent in Saskatoon. It makes everyone feel safe and makes great evidence if there is a crime."

The on-bus cameras will record video in a loop, with the tape only being reviewed if there is an incident on the bus.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

SUBSCRIBE

Select an Issue April 1, 2008 March 1, 2008 February 1, 2008 January 1, 2008 December 1, 2007 November 1, 2007 October 1, 2007 September 1, 2007 August 1, 2007 July 1, 2007 June 1, 2007 IP Security Supplement May 1, 2007 April 1, 2007 March 1, 2007 February 1, 2007 January 1, 2007 School Security December 1, 2006 November 1, 2006 October 1, 2006 September 1, 2006 August 1, 2006 July 1, 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 1, 2006 March 1, 2006 February 1, 2006 January 1, 2006 December 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 October 1, 2005 September 1, 2005 August 1, 2005 July 1, 2005 June 1, 2005 May 1, 2005 April 1, 2005 March 1, 2005 February 1, 2005 January 1, 2005 December 1, 2004 November 1, 2004 October 1, 2004 September 1, 2004 August 1, 2004 July 1, 2004 July 1, 2004 June 1, 2004 May 1, 2004 April 1, 2004 March 1, 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 October 1, 1997 September 1, 1997 August 1, 1997 July 1, 1997 June 1, 1997 May 1, 1997 April 1, 1997 March 1, 1997 February 1, 1997 January 1, 1997

This month in Access Control

• Opening Up About Door Closers
• An Enterprise Approach
• The Framework For Open Systems
• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue