Ottawa drivers navigating school zones may notice something new sprouting up where speed cameras used to stand — and it's a significant downgrade in enforcement power.
City crews were spotted last week installing large electronic speed display signs in a west Ottawa school zone, filling the gaps left behind after Premier Doug Ford ordered the province's school zone speed cameras taken down. The move has raised concerns among parents, school councils, and road safety advocates who worry the switch from cameras to signs is little more than a symbolic gesture.
From Automated Enforcement to Visual Reminders
Speed cameras — formally known as Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) devices — were placed in school and community safety zones across Ottawa as part of a provincial program. When active, they could automatically ticket drivers caught exceeding the posted limit, generating both revenue and, advocates argued, genuine behaviour change.
The large signs now going up display a driver's speed in real time, sometimes flashing or changing colour when a vehicle exceeds the limit. While studies do show these "driver feedback signs" can slow traffic in the short term, they carry no enforcement teeth. There's no ticket, no fine, no demerit — just a number on a screen.
Ford's Decision and Ottawa's Response
Premier Doug Ford's directive to pull the cameras was framed as relief for drivers he characterized as being unfairly ticketed. The move was controversial from the start, with municipalities across Ontario — including Ottawa — pushing back. City staff have indicated they are working within the parameters of the province's decision while trying to maintain some level of traffic calming in the affected zones.
Installing the large signs is one way the city can signal to drivers that they're entering a reduced-speed area, even without the threat of a fine. But for many Ottawa parents who live near school zones, the change feels like a step backward.
"Those cameras were actually working," said one Nepean-area parent who asked not to be named. "Now it's just a sign. Kids are still crossing those streets."
What This Means for Ottawa School Zones
Ottawa has dozens of school zones where speed cameras were previously in operation or planned for rotation. The city's ASE program cycled cameras between locations, meaning each site only had active enforcement for part of the school year. Even with that limitation, the cameras issued thousands of tickets annually and were credited with measurable speed reductions in the zones where they operated.
With the cameras gone, city staff are assessing each former camera location to determine the best interim safety measures. The large electronic signs are one option; additional signage, pavement markings, and requests for police presence are others.
The Bigger Picture
Road safety advocates say Ottawa — like other Ontario cities — now faces a difficult balancing act: maintaining safe school zones with fewer tools and no provincial backing for automated enforcement. Calls for the province to reverse its decision are ongoing, with several Ottawa city councillors having formally voiced opposition.
In the meantime, the message to Ottawa drivers is simple: slow down in school zones, camera or no camera. Children's safety doesn't depend on whether a fine is coming.
Source: CBC Ottawa
