Brampton councillor says speeding has increased since speed camera ticketing stopped

Brampton Councillor Rowena Santos says that data from the cameras show that speeding doubled immediately when the ban started, especially near school zones.

A Brampton city councillor says speeding incidents more than doubled in her community the week after the Ontario government ended speed camera ticketing.

The Ford government recently passed legislation banning municipalities from using speed cameras to issue tickets, calling the tool a “cash grab,” and ordered that all the cameras should stop distributing tickets by Nov. 14.

But according to data shared by Coun. Rowena Santos — collected by speed cameras that were no longer distributing tickets, but which were still capturing vehicle speeds — Brampton saw 71,258 speeding incidents from Nov. 16 to Nov. 22 in the areas where cameras were located. That compares to 31,581 incidents the week prior, when the cameras were still distributing tickets.

“They (the cameras) actually work,” Santos told CP24 Thursday. “And sadly enough, in many cases right now, our school zones are quite vulnerable because there are no traffic calming measures that are currently in place.”

The province has said that it plans to install measures such as speed bumps and roundabouts with the aim of preventing vehicles from being able to speed in sensitive areas.

Also speaking with CP24 Thursday, Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria defended the move to ban cameras.

“Our approach has been the same from day one, proactive measures versus reactive,” Sarkaria said. “Getting a ticket three weeks in the mail after your speeding offense occurs is not the most effective way to slow down individuals.”

Several municipalities exploring use of speed camera data

The province’s move stopped 185 cameras across Brampton from issuing tickets, though the municipality was still able to access the speeding data they collected.

Several municipalities have expressed interest in using the cameras to continue gathering information about speeding, even if the cameras can no longer issue tickets.

The City of Orillia told CP24 it was exploring the idea, but deemed it unfeasible. The Region of Waterloo said it has provided its vendor 90 days’ notice to end its contract for speed cameras, but will make use of the data collected until that happens.

“While images are no longer being captured, the cameras are temporarily helping the Region collect speed data, traffic, and busy times of day,” a spokesperson for the region said.

The Town of Newmarket told CP24 it is also looking to use the data to assess the effectiveness of various tools for reducing speeding.

“Newmarket is exploring the idea of collecting speed data from the existing cameras to help inform decisions on future traffic calming measures and assess the effectiveness of the new provincial signage requirements as a speed mitigation tool,” the town said in an email. “At this time, the speed cameras are collecting speed data until a decision has been made by Newmarket Council.”

Some municipalities say large signs too large

Until speed humps and other traffic calming measures can be installed, the province has provided municipalities with large signage to install where the cameras have been stopped from working.

But Santos said the enormous signs could in fact create blind spots.

“In my five-inch platform boots, I look like an elf on the shelf next to the sign,” she said. “And I will say that size does matter in this case, because these oversized signs that are going to go now into school zones where kids are crossing the street, many of these kids could play peek a boo, and drivers will not even see them running across the road or crossing the road.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said Wednesday that the city does not have poles big enough to support the signage. She also said they have only been given enough signs to cover 20 out of the 150 speed camera areas, though the province has said they will send more.

Asked about the criticism regarding the size of the signs, Premier Doug Ford said Thursday he “broke out laughing” when he heard the complaint.

“All the other municipalities – it’s no problem. But sure enough, it’s Toronto again. In Ottawa, they can’t put up a big sign. Like, do I have to go there and show them how to put up a big sign?” Ford said, adding “it’s just another excuse.”

Asked about Chow’s concern that the city hasn’t received enough signs, he said critics can’t seem to agree on whether the signs are too big or they want more of them.

“At the end of the day in October of next year, the people of Toronto are going to have a choice,” Ford said, alluding to the upcoming municipal elections. “They want to keep moving down that road, or they want to change in going down that road. I get along very well with the mayor, by the way, very, very well.”

He said if the city needs more signs “just call us.”