Toronto Councillors Approve Speed Camera Program Changes Amidst Ford‘s Ban Plans
Toronto city councillors recently approved adjustments to the city’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program, even as Ontario Premier Doug Ford reaffirmed his intention to ban speed cameras province-wide. The debate centers on the effectiveness and purpose of the cameras, with Ford labeling them an ”ineffective cash grab” and Toronto officials arguing they are vital for road safety.
Weeks after Ford announced plans to introduce legislation to halt the use of speed cameras, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow criticized the move, stating it disregards evidence demonstrating the cameras’ ability to prevent injuries and fatalities. “we know speed kills and we know speed cameras in school zones protect children from death or serious injuries. The evidence is clear. Speed cameras save lives,” Chow said, adding that removing them would eliminate a crucial safety tool.
Ford, however, remains unconvinced. He reiterated Wednesday that ASE is a ”total cash grab” and maintains they “do not work” to improve safety. He advocates for traffic-calming infrastructure like speed bumps and roundabouts as a more effective solution, and the province intends to provide funding to municipalities for these measures. ”If you want to continue making it a cash grab and not looking at alternatives, we have an option to put infrastructure in,” Ford stated.
Chow confirmed she had spoken with Ford about the planned ban but was unable to sway his position. Despite this, she expressed hope that the ASE program could be preserved “as long as we have speed cameras that are operating.”
During council discussions, alarming data regarding speeding incidents captured by the cameras was presented. Barbara Gray,Toronto’s general manager of transportation services,revealed that over half of the camera locations issued tickets for drivers exceeding the speed limit by 100 km/h,with the highest recorded speed reaching 187 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. Gray emphasized that the city does not issue tickets for driving just one kilometre over the limit.
Gray expressed concern that eliminating the cameras could reverse the progress made through the city’s Vision Zero plan, perhaps leading to an increase in traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. “Our concern is without [the program] we will start to see those numbers that we’ve worked so hard to keep Torontonians safe will start to go back up again,” she told councillors.
