Ottawa’s police chief says the service must “build our team” to crack down on speeding on roads across the city following the removal of photo radar cameras from school zones and high-speed zones one year ago. The Ontario government ordered all automated speed enforcement cameras to be turned off on Nov. 14, forcing the city to deactivate 85 photo radar cameras. Chief Eric Stubbs told the Ottawa Police Services Board that the removal of the photo radar cameras eliminated a potential penalty for drivers speeding on city streets. “You saw it. Everyone slows down going through a camera zone. So, now that we are a bit of the default,” Stubbs said in response to a question from Coun. Steve Desroches. “If they see a police car, they’re going to naturally slow down. So, we know that that presence and our enforcement will have a positive impact. But we know that it’ll be a very long time before we can cover this city appropriately.” Stubbs says there are 400 plus schools across the city for officers to monitor, along with other intersections that require attention. “Everybody has to do this together. We’re part of that pie,” Stubbs said. “We have to write tickets to slow people down. We have to build our team to make sure we can cover the city a little bit better.” Stubbs told the board that the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police support automated speed enforcement cameras on the roads and would have liked the program to continue. Data released by the City of Ottawa showed drivers were travelling 5-9 km/h faster at former photo radar locations in September compared to September 2025. The average speed recorded at the former photo radar camera location on Innes Road, between Provence Avenue and Trim Road, was 63 km/h in September, compared to 54 km/h in September 2025. The data shows 35 per cent of drivers complied with the speed limit in September. “Written a lot of paper” Ottawa police officers have issued 35,590 tickets and warnings for traffic infractions on Ottawa roads so far this year, up from 26,680 tickets during the same period in 2025. Police have charged 623 drivers with stunt driving, street racing and careless driving, up from 534 tickets during the same period last year. “Our team is small but mighty. They’ve written a lot of paper and it’s not that hard,” Stubbs said. “Meaning, there’s lots to choose from, and that’s concerning.” Thirty-two people have been killed in collisions on Ottawa roads this year, including seven people in October. Desroches told the Ottawa Police Services Board meeting that residents in Riverside South tell him that they believe there is “really just a culture that is starting to sink into the city of just poor driving habits.” “People running red lights or skirting through the yellow light, often, you know, going through the red light. Speeding on residential streets, aggressive driving, driving in bus lanes, just poor conduct,” Desroches said. Desroches asked the chief if he thought “there’s just a culture of bad driving” in Ottawa. “It appears to me that that people in in Ottawa are seeing the roads that are busier, and it takes them longer to get from A to B. Used to take them 15 minutes. Now it takes them 20 or 25,” Stubbs said. “It seems like that patience level is turning into some aggression of trying to get there quicker at that 15-minute mark instead of what it’s taking now, because our roads are just that much busier.” Stubbs said police are increasing their education and public awareness efforts and working with Safer Roads Ottawa to “reinforce these messages across the city.” “Whether you are driving, you’re walking, cycling, or riding a motorcycle, we all want to get home safely. We are all part of the solution,” Stubbs said. “For drivers, that means slowing down, putting the phone away, never driving impaired, and constantly watching for vulnerable road users. With darker mornings and earlier sunsets, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists can be harder to see. Take that extra time, look twice, give people space. For pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, be visible, stay alert, and remember that other road users may not always see you. Road safety is a shared responsibility.” Last week, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and officials from police, paramedics and public health held a media conference to urge drivers to slow down and all road users to eliminate distractions. “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” Mark Sutcliffe said during a media conference at Ottawa City Hall. “Dangerous driving must not be treated as acceptable in our city. We need everyone to play their role in keeping our streets safe. We need drivers to slow down, pay attention, obey the rules, and stop looking at their phones. There’s too much speeding and distracted driving taking place on our roads, and it’s leading to life-changing consequences for many families. “So, I’m appealing to everyone in Ottawa - please put safety first.”
