Ford Calls on Ottawa to Act on School Zone Safety
Ottawa is being pushed by Ontario Premier Doug Ford to install speed bumps in school zones, with the premier calling the measure a "no brainer" when it comes to protecting kids.
Ford made the comments this week, directly urging the City of Ottawa and other municipalities to take action on traffic calming near schools. The premier's remarks come amid growing concern across Ontario about vehicle speeds in zones where children walk, cycle, and play.
Why This Matters for Ottawa Families
For Ottawa parents, the call to action hits close to home. The city has seen ongoing debates about road safety near schools, particularly in neighbourhoods where traffic volumes have increased and drivers routinely exceed posted limits.
Speed bumps are among the most proven tools in urban traffic calming. Studies consistently show they reduce vehicle speeds and, crucially, lower the risk of serious injury in pedestrian collisions. At 30 km/h, the risk of a pedestrian fatality drops dramatically compared to impact at 50 km/h — the standard city speed limit.
Ottawa already has speed bumps and raised crosswalks in select areas, but coverage is far from universal across the city's school zones.
What the City Could Do
The City of Ottawa has existing traffic calming programs, but installations are typically driven by resident petitions, ward councillor requests, and engineering assessments — a process that can take years. Ford's comments suggest he'd like to see municipalities move faster and more proactively.
If Ottawa were to adopt a city-wide school zone speed bump policy, it would require coordination between the city's public works department, school boards, and community stakeholders. Funding would also need to be identified — though speed bumps are relatively low-cost infrastructure compared to signals or full road redesigns.
Community Reaction
Safety advocates and parents have long pushed for more traffic calming near schools. Groups like Ottawa Families for Safe Streets have argued the city moves too slowly when lives are at stake.
On the other side, some residents and delivery drivers have raised concerns about speed bumps on arterial or bus routes, arguing they slow emergency vehicles and transit. The key is targeted placement — side streets and school frontages, not main roads.
What Comes Next
It remains to be seen whether Ottawa city council will take Ford's comments as a formal directive or treat them as political encouragement. Ontario municipalities control their own roads, so the city isn't legally obligated to act on the premier's suggestion.
But with school safety as the backdrop, it would be a tough position for any councillor to argue against. Expect this to come up at committee and in ward offices over the coming weeks.
Ottawa families will be watching to see whether city hall turns this moment into meaningful action — or lets it fade into the usual bureaucratic timeline.
Source: CTV News via Google News Ottawa
