Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has expressed strong opposition to Ontario’s proposal to eliminate speed cameras, emphasizing their crucial role in safeguarding children near schools. Mayor Chow highlighted the pressing issue faced by the city as the provincial government moves forward with plans to remove automated speed enforcement cameras through upcoming legislation.
During a school zone safety summit at the city council chamber, Mayor Chow raised concerns about losing a vital tool for protecting children and urged action from attendees. She emphasized the effectiveness of speed cameras in achieving the desired outcome of ensuring children’s safety and reducing driver speeds, emphasizing the need for immediate action and public support.
Mayor Chow also highlighted the alarming statistic that 250 pedestrians and cyclists have either died or sustained serious 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, brought together parents, transportation experts, and health professionals, including researchers from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Colle, one of the councillors behind the summit, expressed surprise at the provincial plan to remove speed cameras, which were installed in response to community requests to address speeding issues around schools and residential areas. He emphasized the significant role of speed cameras in enhancing road safety, particularly around schools, where 95% of the cameras are strategically placed.
The recent vote by the city council in support of changes to the speed camera program aims to address concerns raised by Premier Doug Ford while maintaining the safety benefits of the devices. These changes include measures to prevent over-ticketing and enhance visibility of speed cameras through larger signs.
According to Linda Rotham, an associate professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, speed cameras have proven highly effective in reducing speeding and targeting the most aggressive drivers. The findings of the SickKids-TMU study demonstrated substantial reductions in drivers exceeding speed limits, highlighting the critical role of speed cameras in mitigating the risks associated with high-speed collisions.
Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria suggested exploring additional traffic-calming measures beyond speed cameras, such as speed bumps, to ensure sustained speed reduction without relying on ticketing. Premier Doug Ford has criticized speed cameras as a “cash grab” and advocated for alternative measures like speed bumps and roundabouts to address speeding concerns, pledging provincial support for municipalities in implementing these strategies.