by Brad Anderson
- Ontario replaces speed cameras with CA$210M in traffic calming measures.
- Investments include speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and added enforcement.
- Half of surveyed locals prefer calming measures instead of speed cameras.
Ontario’s decision to pull the plug on automated speed cameras has set off a fresh round of debate about how best to keep roads safe without turning enforcement into a revenue stream. The move was announced earlier this month by Premier Doug Ford, who called the cameras a “cash grab” that does little to stop speeding in Canada.
Read: Ontario Banned All Speed Cameras After Ford Called Them A Cash Grab
Despite the ban, the province isn’t walking away from road safety altogether. The government plans to invest CA$210 million ($149 million) in new traffic-calming measures, though drivers can now expect fewer fines landing in their mailboxes.
Where Does the Money Go?
Premier Doug Ford’s decision has not been without controversy, and many local mayors urged him to tweak the program, rather than scrap it entirely.
Late last week, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria confirmed that CA$42 million ($30 million) will be invested into speed bumps, roundabouts, raised crosswalks, new signage, and increased police enforcement in the school and community zones that had the cameras.
The remaining CA$168 million ($120 million) will be distributed to eligible municipalities early next year, according to Sarkaria’s comments to CBC.
A recent poll of 2,000 adults in Ontario, conducted by Abacus Data, found that 50 percent of respondents prefer traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and roundabouts over automated speed cameras.
By comparison, 33 percent said they believed automated speed cameras are a better way to reduce speeding and improve safety, while the remaining 17 percent said they were unsure.
The same poll also showed that 80 percent of respondents believed traffic calming measures caused them to slow down when driving. Speed bumps were determined to be the most effective measure.
Revenue Concerns
Of the revenue raised from the automated speed cameras, approximately 35 percent goes to covering the costs of the program, 24 percent is directed to the province, and 41 percent goes to fund the city’s Vision Zero initiatives, which include the police’s Road Safety Program, school crossing guards, and 18 uniformed police officers.
Now that revenue from the speed cameras has ended, Mayor Olivia Chow has questioned how the government will continue paying these officers and crossing guards.