The City of Toronto is a step closer to putting Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras in school and community safety zones to help slow drivers down in areas where students and vulnerable road users are typically present.
Last week, City Council adopted the Automated Speed Enforcement update report, which identified the camera technology that will be used when the program is activated later this year. Identification of the technology by the City and other partnering municipalities was the next milestone required for the Province of Ontario to continue work on enacting the necessary regulations for ASE.
The City continues to work with the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of the Attorney General and partnering municipalities to define the content of the necessary regulations, as well as important components of the program such as effective signage that will be displayed at the locations with the cameras and details around the Joint Processing Centre (for processing speeding violations).
The report recommended that 50 mobile ASE cameras (two per ward) be installed and fully operational on local, collector and arterial roads in school and community safety zones in Toronto by December 2019. Camera locations will be selected and prioritized by the City based on speed and collision data.
The cameras will capture images of offending vehicles (and their rear licence plates), as well as their measured speed. Violation amounts from ASE cameras will be set by the provincial government and are expected to be consistent with Schedule D of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, available at http://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/how-do-i/set-fines/set-fines-i/schedule-43/.
School and community safety zones in Toronto have a number of other safety measures planned or already in place. A complete list can be found at http://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/road-safety/vision-zero/.
The Automated Speed Enforcement Update and Results of the Request for Proposal 9148-19-0048 for the Provision of Automated Speed Enforcement Services report is available at http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-135477.pdf.
Quotes
“We’re getting on with Automated Speed Enforcement in Toronto because we are committed to making our roads safer. We know similar programs have been effective in other places and we have hard data that shows some people are driving at incredibly dangerous speeds near our schools. These cameras can help slow drivers down in zones where children and seniors are most likely to travel.”
– Mayor John Tory
“The World Health Organization identified speed as a key contributing factor in traffic-related injuries. Using Automated Speed Enforcement cameras supports road safety in Toronto by changing driver behaviour and reducing speeds in school and community safety zones. This will reduce fatalities, injuries and property damage and make the roads safer for all.”
– Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 6 York Centre), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee
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