ICBC announced Thursday that 140 intersection cameras across British Columbia will be replaced and upgraded with modern technology.

The cameras are installed at some of the province’s highest-risk intersections and are intended to help reduce dangerous driving behaviours, including red-light running and excessive speeding.

ICBC says the upgraded cameras will also help prevent crashes and improve safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

“Intersections are where drivers, cyclists and pedestrians all share the road, and where some of the most serious crashes in B.C. occur,” said Niki Sharma, attorney general and minister responsible for ICBC.

“Upgrading these cameras with modern technology will help ensure a proven road safety program continues to reduce dangerous driving and prevent crashes for years to come. This is part of our government’s commitment to keep people in B.C. safe on the roads they use every day.”

The cameras being upgraded are located in communities including Metro Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna and Prince George.

All 140 cameras record red-light violations, while 35 locations also monitor speeding. ICBC says warning signs are posted at every camera location to alert drivers.

According to ICBC, the new cameras will provide higher-resolution images and are expected to remain in service for at least 10 years with proper maintenance.

Minor road work will be required at about 90 camera locations. The upgrades may result in temporary lane closures and approximately two weeks of construction at affected sites.

RoadSafetyBC said reports show fewer drivers are running red lights at the 140 current camera locations. The cameras have also contributed to reductions in serious collisions, including side-impact, head-on and pedestrian-involved crashes.

Over the past five years, red-light violations have decreased by 13 per cent, while repeat red-light offenders have declined by 29 per cent.

At locations equipped with speed-enforcement cameras, the number of drivers exceeding the speed limit by more than 25 km/h has fallen by 52 per cent over the past three years.