Many municipalities have lost money on the provincial speed camera ban. Where does Windsor stand in that? Well, the City of Windsor never got that far and did not spend money on speed cameras. However, money was spent on five ‘Armadillos’, which are devices to track real-time traffic data and help figure out where cameras should go. “This is a modern tool that’s digital in its application, to analyze what’s going on in a particular neighbourhood and to help inform the decision-making process around the types of resources that we would deploy in the neighbourhood, given that data,” said Kieran McKenzie, Ward 9 councillor. McKenzie added that the Armadillos are about the size of a small toolbox and sit on roads or near intersections, quietly collecting speed and traffic volume data. The tool doesn’t take pictures or identify drivers, they simply work similar to a police radar gun, gathering speed information. Each of the five Armadillos cost about $5,000. They are completely mobile and can be picked up and moved to another area very quickly. Although Ontario has banned automated speed cameras, the data will still help enforcement and safety work. “It’s a tool that we’re going to be able to use to measure speed across the entire community,” McKenzie said. “So, very much aligns with our Vision Zero processes, where we want to make sure that the decisions we’re making, in order to develop or to deploy resources and to do whatever measures we should undertake in parts of the city where there are some traffic-related issues, that we’re basing that on the data that we’re collecting.” The speed camera ban does not affect red light cameras. They will still be up and running and giving out tickets where necessary. Windsor said the Armadillos will continued to be used to identify troubled areas.
