Drivers urged to slow down as new speed cameras arrive in Waterloo Region

New speed cameras are being set up in Waterloo Region’s school zones. But are the fines fair? CTV’s Alexandra Holyk reports.

The back-to-school rush in Waterloo Region is being met with a push for drivers to pump the brakes.

New speed cameras will be installed in 11 school zones this fall and will be activated between late-September and early-October.

They include:

• Clearview Mennonite School (Three Bridges Road, south of Allemang Place in Woolwich), 50 km/h
• St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School (Guelph Avenue, near Fletcher Circle in Cambridge), 30 km/h
• Holy Spirit School / Moffatt Creek School (Myers Road, west of Lisbon Pine Drive in Cambridge), 40 km/h
• Monsignor Doyle CSS / Cambridge Christian School (Myers Road, west of Greenbrier Road in Cambridge), 40 km/h
• Manchester Public School (Dundas Street North, north of Samuelson Street in Cambridge), 40 km/h
• Courtland Avenue School (Courtland Avenue East, southeast of Peter Street in Kitchener), 40 km/h
• Bridgeport Public School (Bridge Street West, west of Woolwich Street in Kitchener), 40 km/h
• Forest Hill Public School (Westmount Road East, north of Stonybrook Drive in Kitchener), 40 km/h
• Forest Heights Collegiate Institute (Fischer-Hallman Road, north of Forest Hill Drive in Kitchener), 40 km/h
• Eastwood Collegiate Institute (Weber Street East, west of Montgomery Road in Kitchener), 40 km/h
• Chicopee Hills Public School (Lackner Boulevard, west of Fairway Road in Kitchener), 40 km/h

While the camera at Fischer-Hallman Road has already been installed, it has yet to go live.

It is also getting mixed reviews from drivers.

“I think people know it’s a school area. Cameras are not needed,” said one driver from St. Jacobs.

“It seems like people just slow down in front of it anyway and then keep going fast afterwards,” another from Kitchener’s Country Hills neighbourhood said.

Some drivers also argued speed cameras should be limited to school hours.

“When schools are closed down, and on the weekends, I think that’s a little punitive,” said one driver.

According to CAA, the 24/7 policy has its perks. Especially for those who live in the area.

“These cameras are in communities where people live,” said Michael Stewart, a spokesperson for CAA South Central Ontario. “It’s really important that we are following those posted speed limits no matter what that time of day is.”

Fines for speeding in a school or safety zone range are:

• $5 per kilometre for one to 19 km/hr over the legal limit
• $7.50 per kilometre for 20 to 29 km/hr over the legal limit
• $12 per kilometre for 30 to 49 km/hr over the legal limit
• $19.50 per kilometre for 50 km/hr or mover over the legal limit

Surplus revenue above capital and operating costs goes towards road improvements across Waterloo Region.

“These cameras are not ‘gotcha moments,’” Stewart explained. “They are meant to remind you of this behaviour and to hopefully keep you driving at a safe speed.”

The region is expected to release its Municipal Speed Camera Mid-Year Report on Tuesday.