As more #SlowDownVaughan signs appear, one resident wants the city to leverage tech to curb speeding

Since last fall, at least 450 #SlowDownVaughan signs have been collected after the City of Vaughan launched a lawn sign campaign to encourage the public to slow down while driving.

Last year, Vaughan also reduced its speed limits from 50 to 30 km/h on all public roads after two separate car crashes resulted in the deaths of three children.

^{Com. Marilyn Iafrate (left) poses with #SLOWDOWN signs alongside York Regional Police officers. – Marilyn Iafrate/PhotoTwitter}

This phenomenon of speeding has made him a more proactive citizen over the past 10 years, forcing him to chase York Regional Police to enforce the 40 mph speed limit.

When told YRP didn’t have enough staff, Andrews considered investing in photo radar as a solution.

“It doesn’t require anyone to sit in a car and constantly watch traffic. It does everything,” Andrews said, speaking in favor of harnessing the technology.

Enforcement statistics show that over the past five years, speeding is the number one traffic violation in York Region, accounting for over 60% of all traffic violations of the road.

YRP says York Region would be tasked with considering the use of Automated Speed ​​Enforcement (ASE) technology.

York Region says it is currently conducting a two-year, limited-use ASE pilot project that began in November 2020 and is estimated to cost $500,000.

Ontario only began allowing municipalities to use CSA in 2020 after the province enacted Bill 65, the Safe School Zones Act, in 2017.

Since then, York Region has started using 12 ASE cameras, prioritizing areas near schools. These cameras are rotated and shared between the nine municipalities of the region.

Vaughan also said that this program aims to determine the ability of provincial courts to deal with offenses, as well as a trial for the technology used.

“Vaughan was the first municipality in York Region to receive speed cameras, installed on Rutherford Road in November 2020 as part of this pilot program,” the city said.

Currently, a single-speed radar is installed in Vaughan, which is part of Vaughan’s MoveSmart strategy.

The strategy includes an ASE plan, which is currently being developed with York Region, other municipalities and the Traffic Council of Ontario.

“The region will share its data and experience to support the creation of an ASE program at the municipal level,” the city said. “The option of using the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) for ESA is also being considered.”

Lorraine Sommerfeld, an automotive columnist who contributes to Torstar publications, recently wrote an article calling for more speed cameras in Ontario, marking a shift in narrative from her earlier stance where she referred to these roadside gadgets as a cash grab.

However, Sommerfeld does not believe speed cameras are the ultimate answer to speeding since drivers will revert to speeding once these speed cameras are moved to another location. Also, the fines issued by the ASE do not include demerit points, so drivers who have the money will simply pay for their fast ride, she added.

“Unless you have buy-in from everyone using the roads, it won’t work, and that means drivers have to slow down,” Sommerfeld said.

She also said speed cameras are expensive and are maintained by private companies who usually charge fees to cities.

Sommerfeld cited examples from Holland, Denmark and Sweden, where those countries implemented photo radar long before Ontario.

“They also design their roads better,” she said. “As in Holland, the cycle paths are absolutely separated.”

York Region says it has changed road designs or narrowed lanes in some areas to change driver behavior so they slow down.

Sommerfeld, however, says “cars are winning” in most Canadian cities, leaving pedestrians and cyclists vulnerable.