Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is advocating for the preservation of automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras in the city and across Ontario, emphasizing their role in saving lives. Chow’s push comes as the Ford government plans to ban the use of these cameras province-wide.
In a letter addressed to the city’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee, Chow highlighted the importance of ASE in preventing tragedies like the recent death of 15-year-old Christina Huang in Scarborough. She stressed the dangers of speeding in neighborhoods, noting that since 2024, 250 Torontonians have either died or sustained serious injuries on the roads.
“Speed kills,” Chow emphasized. “We need to do everything in our power to prevent such tragedies, and that includes utilizing tools like automated speed enforcement effectively.”
Chow’s stance aligns with advocates and police chiefs who support the use of ASE cameras, citing research that shows a significant reduction in speeding and a positive impact on road safety. A study by SickKids and Toronto Metropolitan University revealed a 45% decrease in speeding in Toronto due to ASE, and a 2025 CAA survey indicated strong support from nearly three-quarters of Ontario drivers for these cameras.
Despite acknowledging some concerns about fairness, Chow proposed measures to address them, such as limiting fines to once per driver within a seven-day period and enhancing signage visibility near the cameras for better awareness among motorists.
While defending the importance of ASE, Chow also urged for transparency from the Ontario government in providing data-backed reasoning for the removal of these cameras, emphasizing that the revenue generated from ASE tickets is significantly lower than Toronto’s annual Vision Zero road safety budget and that the funds collected support Victim Services.
The debate over the future of ASE cameras is set to continue in the City Council as the province prepares to introduce legislation on the matter.