Say goodbye to speed cameras in Simcoe County: Province funding new safety measures

Community Safety Zone sign.

The Ontario government announced a $210 million investment to replace controversial speed cameras with traffic calming measures in school and community safety zones, despite calls from local mayors to find a compromise to keep them operational.

The province says it’s new Road Safety Initiatives Fund will help municipalities like Barrie and Orillia replace speed cameras with things like speed bumps, raised crosswalks, roundabouts, and better signage.

Plus, the government says the fund will help finance more police enforcement in school and community safety zones, rather than relying on speed cameras that critics say have been more about generating revenue than improving safety.

The provincial ban on municipal speed cameras takes effect Friday, after Premier Doug Ford called the cameras a “tax grab,” stating it cost drivers and taxpayers too much.

Ontario reports that since 2019, over 700 new cameras have been installed across the province, leading to millions in fines.

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is standing up for drivers by banning cash-grab speed cameras and supporting proven road safety measures that will make a real difference,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation in a release on Thursday.

A group of Simcoe County mayors penned a letter to try and convince the premier to reconsider, arguing automated enforcement helped reduce speeding and improve safety in school zones, but ultimately, Ford held strong on his stance.

A Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) survey that found 73 per cent of drivers slow down when approaching automated speed enforcement zones, supporting the cameras’ effectiveness in changing driving behaviour.

With no reversal in sight, several communities across Simcoe County have since announced the program’s end, including Barrie, Orillia and Innisfil.

The Ontario government says it’s focus is on preventing speeding in the first place through infrastructure and enforcement, rather than sending tickets weeks after the fact.

The City of Barrie is also exploring adding red light cameras and other safety initiatives funded through existing city reserves to maintain road safety.

After Friday, drivers across Simcoe County shouldn’t expect tickets from speed cameras, but will be expected to pay any tickets received prior to the program’s official end.