Speed humps and cushions could be installed at dozens of former photo radar camera locations across Ottawa as part of the plan to slow down drivers. The Ontario government passed legislation last fall to ban automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras on roads across the province, with municipalities required to turn off the cameras by Nov. 14, 2025. The City of Ottawa is eligible to receive up to $23.8 million in funding under Ontario’s Road Safety Initiatives Fund to implement traffic calming measures and install signage at former photo radar camera locations. Measures that can be installed include speed bumps, speed cushions, speed display boards and signage. Speed cushions are a type of speed bump that slows down vehicles but allows larger vehicles, including fire trucks, to pass without slowing down, according to Coun. Glen Gower. In a message on his website, Gower says the city has applied for funding to pay for traffic calming measures and safety infrastructure in several school zones. He notes four sets of speed cushions will be installed on Stittsville Main Street and on Abbott Street at former photo radar locations. A recent city report outlined proposed measures at the 84 former photo radar camera locations, which will require provincial approval and a detailed design before being implemented. All projects must be completed by the end of March 2028. In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, the city said it was finalizing detailed, site-by-site assessments at each location to determine the feasibility of various kinds of traffic-calming and other road safety measures. “Each assessment involves careful consideration of potential impacts on transit routes, emergency services response times, vibration impacts to nearby properties, drainage and underground infrastructure, and any conflicts with other planned construction in the area. Feedback gathered through consultations is also an important part of this process,” said Traffic Safety and Mobility manager Heidi Cousineau in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. “The City submitted an application to the MTO for the Road Safety Initiative Fund on April 22 and received confirmation from MTO on May 14 that it has been received and is being reviewed as part of the program assessment process.” The city’s plans include installing thermoplastic symbols at some photo radar locations, upgrading the existing crosswalk and upgrading power sources. Eighty-two locations will have a speed display board installed to inform drivers how fast they are travelling. Here is the list of locations where speed humps and cushions could be installed. Speed cushions Speed humps Data from the City of Ottawa shows drivers have been speeding in school zones since the photo radar cameras were turned off. The data, released earlier this month, shows the average speed increased 8 km/h to 10 km/h at seven of the eight photo radar locations between October, the last full month for photo radar cameras, and April. Approximately 70 per cent of drivers were observed speeding at three former photo radar locations in April, compared to only 10 per cent of drivers speeding over the limit last October. According to city data, only 25 per cent of drivers complied with the posted speed limit on Longfields Drive in April, down from 38 per cent of drivers complying with the speed limit in March and 62 per cent of drivers complying with the speed limit last December. The average speed observed on Longfields Drive at the site of the former photo radar camera was 45 km/h in April, compared to 35 km/h last October.
