Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is seeking to increase traffic enforcement in the city by bringing back speed cameras, citing a report that highlights the dangers of speeding.
The report, titled Supplemental Report on the Safety Impacts of the Cancellation of the Automated Speed Enforcement Program, notes that higher speeds contribute to a higher risk of serious injuries and fatalities in compounding ways, reducing reaction time for drivers and increasing vehicle stopping distance.
School zones are particularly vulnerable to speeding, with Chow lamenting that "people are driving like it is a highway." The report found that the number of speeders increased by 410% at locations with a posted speed limit of 30 km/h, and by 480% at locations with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h, after speed cameras were turned off.
Chow argues that lower vehicle speeds are essential for improving road safety, citing the report's findings that they can reduce the frequency and severity of rear-end, head-on, and T-bone collisions, as well as accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.
Before the end of speed camera enforcement on November 14, 2025, there were 150 devices erected throughout the city. However, the Premier had previously called automated cameras a "cash grab," saying they were not as effective as speed bumps and other traffic-calming measures in slowing down speeders.
Chow disagrees, stating that the report's findings demonstrate the effectiveness of speed cameras in reducing speeding and improving road safety. She plans to continue advocating for increased traffic enforcement, despite opposition from the Premier.
