Speed camera programs in Ontario are being deactivated as of Friday, leading to adjustments in Guelph, Wellington County, and the Region of Waterloo. The Ontario government passed legislation on October 30 to ban speed cameras, requiring their removal by November 14. Despite data collected by municipalities and a study by the Hospital for Sick Children indicating the effectiveness of speed camera programs in influencing driver behavior, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria have emphasized the efficacy of alternative measures such as speed humps, roundabouts, and flashing signs.
In response to the ban, more than 20 mayors had urged Ford to revise the program instead of completely eliminating it. The province announced a $210 million allocation for municipalities to implement traffic-calming measures, with an immediate $42 million provided through the new Road Safety Initiatives Fund for other speed reduction initiatives.
Waterloo region, which currently operates 28 municipal speed cameras in school zones, disclosed that it ceased issuing tickets on Thursday. However, residents are still obligated to pay fines for tickets received after the shutdown date. The region confirmed that the speed cameras will remain temporarily in place to collect traffic speed data, with plans to install new provincially-mandated school zone signage across the 28 locations where the cameras were deployed.
Similarly, the City of Guelph initiated its speed camera program in 2023, featuring 12 rotating speed cameras in residential neighborhoods and community safety zones. The city announced that the program will continue until Friday, and residents are reminded to settle any outstanding tickets, even if issued after November 14. Jennifer Charles, the city’s general manager of legal and court services, affirmed that there are no additional costs or penalties associated with terminating the program and removing the cameras.
Wellington County also clarified that there will be no extra expenses for discontinuing the program or removing the cameras, as they intend to repurpose the cameras for monitoring vehicle speeds. A recent survey by a parent involvement committee within the Waterloo Region District School Board revealed mixed opinions among parents regarding the removal of speed cameras, with some suggesting that the cameras should only operate during school hours.
Chief Mark Crowell of the Waterloo Regional Police Service expressed support for the region’s speed camera program as a supplementary tool alongside police efforts. He emphasized that the discontinuation of the program does not equate to an increase in officers on the roads and highlighted the need for collaborative efforts to identify effective traffic calming measures in community safety zones. Crowell proposed the establishment of a dedicated road safety team comprising six officers as part of the upcoming budget, emphasizing the importance of sustained investment to achieve the desired outcomes in reducing speeds within the community.