Ottawa Speed Zones Under Scrutiny After Camera Removal
Ottawa is grappling with a surge in speeding in school zones after Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government ordered automated speed enforcement cameras to be removed — and Ford's proposed fix has turned heads: just put in speed bumps.
The premier made the suggestion after being pressed on City of Ottawa data showing a clear increase in speeding in school zones following the camera removal. Rather than reconsidering the province's decision, Ford offered the low-tech alternative as a workaround for municipalities left scrambling to maintain road safety.
What the Data Shows
The City of Ottawa had been using photo radar cameras in school zones and community safety zones as part of a broader automated speed enforcement program. The cameras had become a key tool for slowing drivers in areas where children walk to school and families live close to busy roads.
After the province pulled the plug on the program, Ottawa's own traffic data painted a troubling picture: drivers were speeding more frequently through those same zones. For parents, school staff, and road safety advocates, that's not a surprising finding — it's a predictable outcome of removing enforcement.
Ford's Response: Speed Bumps
When confronted with Ottawa's numbers, Ford didn't signal any willingness to reverse course on the cameras. Instead, he suggested the city install speed bumps in locations where cameras previously stood.
The comment landed with a thud for many observers. Speed bumps, while effective in some contexts, are a passive measure that slows all traffic including emergency vehicles. They also require significant road work and ongoing maintenance — and don't carry the same deterrent effect as enforcement-based tools like speed cameras.
Critics were quick to point out that the cameras generated revenue that was reinvested into road safety programs, while speed bumps carry upfront costs that fall entirely on the municipality.
Ottawa Left Holding the Bag
For Ottawa city councillors, the exchange underscores a frustrating dynamic: the province makes the policy call, and the city absorbs the consequences. Ottawa had invested in the camera infrastructure and built safety programs around it. Now, with cameras gone and speeds creeping back up, city staff are left looking for alternatives — with no provincial support on the horizon.
The issue is especially pointed near Ottawa's elementary schools, where reduced traffic speeds are directly linked to the safety of children arriving and departing on foot or by bike. Many of these roads run through dense residential neighbourhoods where traffic management is already a challenge.
What Comes Next
It's unclear whether Ottawa City Council will pursue a large-scale speed bump installation program in former camera zones, or whether the city will lobby the province to reconsider the camera ban. Advocates are expected to keep the pressure on at both levels of government as new traffic data accumulates.
For now, Ottawa parents and school communities are watching the numbers — and waiting to see whether Queen's Park or City Hall will take the next step to bring safety back to their streets.
Source: CBC Ottawa
