In a significant move, the Ontario government, led by Premier Doug Ford, has passed legislation to eliminate speed cameras across the province within the next two weeks. Despite this decision, there remains uncertainty regarding the implementation timeline for the alternative traffic calming measures advocated by the premier.
Premier Ford asserts that speed cameras are ineffective in reducing speeding incidents, contrasting with data gathered by various municipalities and researchers from the Hospital for Sick Children. He advocates for the use of speed bumps, roundabouts, and illuminated signs as more efficient methods to manage traffic speed.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria acknowledged that the replacement measures for speed cameras are still pending implementation. Temporary and enhanced signage will be installed in the affected areas before the removal of speed cameras. Additionally, ongoing collaboration with municipalities is planned to explore further traffic calming strategies.
While Ford has proposed the adoption of speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and roundabouts, details regarding the allocated funding remain undisclosed. Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, along with other municipal leaders, has emphasized the necessity for adequate funding and the immediate availability of alternative safety measures before the removal of speed cameras to prevent a potential safety gap.
Opposition voices, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles and Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser, express concerns over the removal of speed cameras without immediate replacement measures. Fraser highlights that the decision contradicts evidence presented by municipalities, research institutions, and law enforcement bodies, cautioning against compromising community safety.
Premier Ford’s stance against speed cameras intensified following the vandalism directed at 17 automated speed cameras in Toronto over a two-day period. The legislation to ban speed cameras was incorporated into a broader red tape reduction bill, accelerating the process and bypassing public hearings.