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: 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: 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.
