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The District of Summerland is trying to get a green light for safety improvements on Highway 97.
On Monday, council members voted to write letters to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure with two separate requests.
One of those is to install red light cameras and photo radar at two main intersections along the highway — at Rosedale Avenue and at Solly Road.
Summerland Mayor Peter Waterman said the proposed improvements would benefit the Solly Road intersection especially, where a high percentage of crashes occur compared to other sections of highway.
"We've had a number of small accidents there, and in fact some substantial accidents. It's not a well constructed intersection in many ways," Waterman said.
Photo radar hasn't been used in B.C. since 2001, but earlier this month the province announced red-light cameras would be upgraded with "new technology" to clock in speeding drivers.
District council also has asked MOTI if they can place concrete barriers along Highway 97 just south of Trout Creek, between Sunoka Beach and Pyramid Provincial Park.
Waterman acknowledged over the years a number of vehicles have driven into the lake at that location, often in winter driving conditions.
Castanet spoke to a handful of residents in town on the proposed changes. While some were in favour of one and not the other, all were in favour of some sort of safety improvements along the highway.
"Out here and in Trout Creek, I think people still continue to go too fast through town, not realizing that they're in town and not still on just a highway," one resident said.
Some people also said they would like to see a light on the highway at Arkell Road in Trout Creek, saying it's dangerous for vehicles to cross four lanes of traffic when a making a left turn.
Waterman said the district is hopeful the photo radar and red light cameras can be installed as soon as possible. He acknowledged, however, it could realistically take the province until 2019 to begin work, if the proposed changes are approved.
