Toronto’s speed cameras are proving to be effective in significantly reducing the number of people speeding, based on a new report.
Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) conducted an evaluation study where they analyzed speed and collision data from January 2020 to December 2022 at 204 locations that had the city’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) device.
The study found that the percentage of drivers exceeding the speed limit decreased at 80 per cent of locations with speeding cameras. Excessive speeding, which is described as driving over the speed limit by 20 km/h or more, was also reduced by 87 per cent after devices were placed.
“The study shows that the proportion of people speeding in 30, 40 and 50 km/h speed limit zones dropped from approximately 60 to 43, 51 to 30 and 58 to 36 per cent respectively when the devices were operational. This represents an overall 45 per cent reduction in the proportion of people speeding in areas with an ASE device,” the city said in a statement on Tuesday.
In addition, the data revealed that speeding cameras reduced the overall speed of vehicles to approximately seven kilometers per hour.
The city launched its Automated Speed Enforcement program in July 2020 and since then, there are currently 75 devices issuing tickets in the city. The program was created to increase road safety, reduce speeding and raise public awareness about the need to slow down and obey speed limits.
“This is a testament to the program’s effectiveness in slowing down drivers and creating a safer environment for our school communities. These findings, coupled with the other Vision Zero measures the City continues to implement, reaffirm our dedication to implementing evidence-based strategies for road safety,” Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie said in a release.
The city is reminding drivers that the total payable fine for speeding includes a set fine, a victim fine surcharge and applicable court costs. Speeding tickets, however, do not incur any demerit points and will not affect a person’s driving record.
