Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow voiced her opposition to Ontario’s decision to eliminate speed cameras, emphasizing their crucial role in safeguarding children near schools. Chow described the city’s predicament as the Ontario government aims to dismantle automated speed enforcement cameras through upcoming legislation, prompting her to question the removal of a vital tool for child protection.
During a school zone safety summit at the city council chamber, Chow stressed the importance of acting swiftly, as she highlighted the effectiveness of speed cameras in achieving the desired outcome of enhancing child safety and reducing driver speeds. With a somber tone, Chow cited the alarming statistics of 250 pedestrians and cyclists suffering fatal or severe injuries on Toronto streets since 2024, underscoring the lethal impact of speed on road safety.
The summit, organized by city councillors Mike Colle and Paula Fletcher, attracted concerned parents and transportation and public health experts, including researchers from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and Toronto Metropolitan University. A study conducted by these institutions earlier this year revealed that speed cameras led to a 45% reduction in speeding within school zones, emphasizing their significant role in enhancing road safety.
Colle, a vocal advocate for speed cameras, expressed astonishment at the provincial plan to remove these devices, especially considering the community’s prior requests for their installation to address rampant speeding issues near schools. He emphasized that the majority of speed cameras in Toronto are strategically positioned near schools, with over 800 schools benefiting from the presence of 150 speed cameras. Colle emphasized the indispensable nature of these technological tools in ensuring road safety.
In response to concerns raised at the summit, city council recently approved modifications to the speed camera program in a bid to dissuade Premier Doug Ford from eliminating these devices. The changes aim to prevent excessive ticketing by limiting citations and enhancing the visibility of speed cameras through larger signage.
Linda Rotham, an associate professor at TMU specializing in public health, highlighted the effectiveness of speed cameras in curbing speeding behaviors, particularly among the most aggressive drivers. The study conducted by SickKids and TMU demonstrated significant reductions in speeding violations with the presence of speed cameras, showcasing their impact on enhancing road safety.
While some officials, like Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, suggest exploring alternative traffic-calming measures, Premier Doug Ford remains firm in his opposition to speed cameras, labeling them as a revenue-generating tactic that fails to improve safety. Ford advocates for the implementation of traffic-calming measures like speed bumps and roundabouts, pledging provincial support to municipalities for their installation.
The ongoing debate surrounding the fate of speed cameras underscores the complex interplay between road safety measures and differing perspectives on the most effective strategies to reduce speeding violations and protect vulnerable road users.