Changes in Ontario Road Safety
The province of Ontario has decided to replace automated speed cameras with traffic calming measures costing 210 million Canadian dollars. This step has sparked public discussion regarding the effectiveness of such road safety methods.
Key Measures
Public Reaction
According to a survey conducted by Abacus Data, half of the respondents in Ontario prefer traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, over automated cameras. Only 33% consider cameras to be the better way to combat speeding, while 17% have no definite opinion.
Provincial Premier Doug Ford called speed cameras a “cash grab” that has little impact on actually slowing down traffic.
Financial Aspects
Of the funds received from the cameras, 35% went to cover program costs, 24% was directed to the province, and 41% funded municipal “Vision Zero” initiatives, including police safety programs and school crossing guards. With the cessation of the cameras’ operation, questions have arisen regarding the further funding of these measures.
Effectiveness of Measures
The survey also showed that 80% of drivers note that traffic calming measures prompt them to reduce speed. Speed bumps were recognized as the most effective.
The transition to physical safety measures could contribute to greater driver awareness and a reduction in the number of accidents, especially in high-risk areas such as school zones. However, the long-term impact on municipal budgets and the effectiveness of these changes requires further monitoring and analysis.