Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has expressed strong opposition to the Ontario government’s proposal to eliminate speed cameras, emphasizing their crucial role in ensuring the safety of children near schools. Speaking at a school zone safety summit, Chow highlighted the city’s dilemma in the face of the impending legislation aimed at removing automated speed enforcement cameras.
Addressing attendees at the summit, Chow raised concerns about the potential loss of a vital tool for safeguarding children and urged swift action to preserve the effectiveness of speed cameras. She emphasized the positive impact of these devices in reducing speed and protecting young pedestrians and cyclists, citing alarming statistics of 250 fatalities and serious injuries on Toronto streets since 2024.
Organized by city councillors Mike Colle and Paula Fletcher, the summit brought together concerned parents, transportation experts, and public health researchers from institutions like SickKids and Toronto Metropolitan University. Recent research by these institutions revealed that speed cameras led to a significant 45% decrease in speeding within school zones.
Colle, a vocal advocate for speed cameras, highlighted the community’s strong support for these devices, especially in response to dangerous speeding behaviors near schools. He emphasized the essential role of speed cameras in maintaining road safety, particularly near educational institutions, where 95% of Toronto’s speed cameras are strategically placed.
In response to the provincial government’s plans, the city council recently approved changes to the speed camera program in a bid to address concerns and potentially sway Premier Doug Ford’s stance on their removal. These changes aim to balance enforcement with fairness, including measures to improve visibility and reduce excessive ticketing.
TMU associate professor Linda Rotham reiterated the effectiveness of speed cameras in curbing speeding, particularly among the most reckless drivers. Rotham emphasized that speed cameras significantly reduced instances of drivers exceeding speed limits by significant margins, thereby enhancing road safety and reducing the risk of severe accidents.
While some officials, like Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, have suggested exploring alternative traffic-calming measures, Mayor Ford remains steadfast in his opposition to speed cameras, labeling them as a mere revenue-generating scheme. Ford advocates for initiatives like speed bumps and roundabouts to address speeding issues, intending to allocate funding to municipalities for implementing these measures.
