It’s the way they’ve always nabbed speeders, but now it’s also the only way — officers with boots on the ground and radar guns in hand. The Ottawa Police Service launched its new Road Safety Unit in mid-December to target dangerous driving behaviours such as speeding, stunt driving, distracted driving, and impaired driving following requests from the public and councillors. “We received complaints in how the Ottawa Police was servicing the community needs in regards to traffic safety,” says Sergeant Josh Callaghan of the Road Safety Unit. “After hearing those needs, the Ottawa Police executive made the decision to create the Road Safety Unit but also create district traffic units that would be responsible for servicing those needs specific to those community districts.” The new Road Safety Units were announced in the summer of 2025 as part of a larger plan to shift to a four-district policing model, and before the Ford government scrapped the speed camera program. On Thursday morning, Sgt. Callaghan set up a speed blitz on Mer-Bleue Road in Orleans, a problem area for Ottawa Police. “Today, here in the East District, we have approximately nine officers doing an increased, focused initiative in regards to traffic enforcement for speed and stunt driving this morning. I myself have already stopped one driver for driving 109km in a 60-kilometer per hour zone.” Road Safety Units have been deployed in Ottawa’s east, west, and south ends, with a central unit still to roll out. To Ottawa’s drivers, Callaghan has a clear message. “Be cautious, be courteous to other drivers. Please take your time. “We have a slogan that we like to say that we adopted with the Road Safety Unit: every trip matters, drive smart, and drive safe.”
