This city removed all its automatic speed cameras and replaced them with speed bumps

We were talking about it in our columnsOntario has removed automatic speed cameras. But now, there is controversy surrounding the financing of road safety programs which depend heavily on revenue from these radars. As reported by our colleagues atAuto Plusthe allocated budget is divided into two envelopes.

Ontario says goodbye to speed cameras

Provincial authorities will spend $42 million directly to install speed bumps, roundabouts, raised pedestrian crossings and new traffic signs. Eligible municipalities will share the rest of the funds from 2026. The objective could be to strengthen the police presence in school zones, but also to add many more speed bumps on the territory.

According to a recent survey, 80% of drivers think that these infrastructures encourage them to slow down. Speed ​​bumps are considered the most effective in terms of deterrence, according to the motorists interviewed. It is this popularity that pushes the Ontario government to focus on these solutions instead of automatic radars.

Except that the dismantling of radars creates a huge budget gap which greatly worries municipalities. Speed ​​cameras do not just penalize speeding, since they finance a huge part of road safety initiatives through a redistribution of fines collected.

The distribution of revenue follows a precise path: 35% was used to operate the radars, 25% went to provincial coffers and 41% funded the Vision Zero initiatives, which bring together agents dedicated to road safety, patrols, equipment and even the remuneration of the people who take schoolchildren across when leaving schools.

Quid employees financed by radar money?

Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto, has publicly questioned the viability of this big change. The question arises of the financing of the 18 agents assigned to road safety and the people who protect the surroundings of schools. This income depends on automatic speed camera tickets, so what of these necessary jobs? Many other mayors are not calling for the disappearance of radars but for their modernization to improve their acceptance among the population.

So, will Ontario achieve its goal of providing sufficient road safety while doing without radars and relying on speed bumps and other physical devices on the road? It’s a risky bet and there is no doubt that many will be watching the record of Doug Ford, Prime Minister of the Canadian province, very closely.

Want to save even more? Discover our promo codes selected for you.