Toronto Faces Safety Gap as Speed Camera Ban Takes Effect
So here’s what’s happening right now in Ontario — the provincial government’s decision to ban automated speed cameras has stirred up quite a storm, especially in Toronto. The new legislation, introduced by Premier Doug Ford’s government, has officially passed its final reading. And while the province says it’s ready to replace those cameras with other “traffic-calming measures,” city officials are warning that many areas could be left exposed for months — or even years — without proper safety measures in place.
Let’s break this down. By mid-November, around 150 speed cameras across Toronto — most of them installed near schools, parks, and hospitals — are expected to be shut down. The province says it will step in to help fund replacements like larger warning signs, speed bumps, and roundabouts. The idea sounds great on paper. But according to city staff, it’s not that simple. Many of these locations, especially those on major roads or with streetcar tracks, can’t accommodate speed bumps or roundabouts due to design limitations.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria has said his team will work closely with municipalities to install temporary warning signs before the cameras are removed. However, he hasn’t offered a clear timeline for when the promised infrastructure changes will actually be built. And here’s the catch — those permanent fixes can take a long time. City officials estimate that even basic projects like speed humps can take 12 to 16 months to complete after getting council approval. Full road redesigns could take anywhere from five to ten years.
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Mayor Olivia Chow isn’t happy about that uncertainty. She’s been pressing the province for a concrete plan to replace the cameras before they’re taken down. Chow argues that without immediate alternatives, school zones will lose a vital layer of protection for children and pedestrians. Her office has also said they haven’t seen any detailed rollout plan or clear funding structure for how the city is supposed to transition.
Experts are equally concerned. Civil engineer and road safety researcher Sasha Gollish warned that simply putting up bigger signs won’t stop drivers from speeding. She explained that drivers tend to ignore warnings when they know there’s little risk of enforcement — meaning the absence of cameras could make school zones more dangerous.
Meanwhile, parents and safety advocates are frustrated. Danielle Gibson, a member of the group Parents Against Speeding , said bluntly that signs alone won’t save lives. “Speed cameras are proven to work,” she said, adding that the province’s claims of “100 percent effective” new measures are misleading at best.
For now, the fate of Toronto’s speed enforcement program hangs in uncertainty. The province promises new safety solutions, but the city fears a long and risky gap before those promises become reality — and in that time, children walking to school may be the ones most at risk.
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