At the Council meeting of June 24, 2020, Council approved a motion directing Transportation Services Department staff to initiate the speed camera pilot project as of July 13, 2020, to address an increase in speeding observed at previously identified locations.
As part of this project, speed camera technology will be piloted along roadways adjacent to school areas located within Council-approved designated Community Safety Zones (CSZ). The use of speed cameras and the selected pilot locations align with corresponding ASE provincial regulations.
The pilot project is meant to evaluate the effectiveness of speed cameras at reducing instances of speeding in the vicinity of schools. Lowering operating speeds enhances safety by reducing the potential for and severity of collisions. As part of the project, the effectiveness of both “Fixed” and “Rotational” speed camera systems will be studied within eight CSZ. The two locations where speed cameras will be installed for the duration of the pilot are considered “Fixed” sites. The other six locations are considered “Rotational” sites. Two cameras will be rotated among these sites approximately every 45 days.
Table 1: Automated Speed Enforcement Pilot Project Locations
Location of CSZ | Schools Fronting on the CSZ Designated Segment of the Roadway | Type of Speed Camera Site |
Innes Road | École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges | Fixed |
Bayshore Drive | St. Rose of Lima School | Fixed |
Smyth Road | Vincent Massey Public SchoolHillcrest High SchoolÉcole secondaire catholique Franco-Cité | Rotational |
Meadowlands Drive W | St. Gregory School | Rotational |
Ogilvie Road | Gloucester High School | Rotational |
Longfields Drive | École élémentaire catholique Pierre-Elliott-TrudeauSt. Mother Teresa High SchoolLongfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School | Rotational |
Katimavik Road | Holy Trinity Catholic High School | Rotational |
Watters Road | St. Francis of Assisi School | Rotational |
On July 13, 2020, when the speed cameras are activated at Fixed and Rotational sites, motorists will receive a mailed infraction if they are photographed speeding through these areas. There are no demerit points associated with infractions from the speed cameras.
Data will be collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the speed cameras at lowering roadway operating speeds in areas where they are installed. A report will be presented to Transportation Committee and Council in mid-2021 with recommendations on the use of speed cameras within Ottawa moving forward.
Please visit ottawa.ca for more information on automated speed enforcement.