Automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras are making a significant impact on Brampton’s roads, cutting driver speeds by as much as 25 kilometres per hour in school and community safety zones, according to a new city report.
The findings come as Brampton prepares to boost its ASE network to 185 cameras by the end of September, a move criticized by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has called such programs a “cash grab.” But the city’s data tells a different story. Since adding 135 new cameras, average speed reductions have ranged from 6.5 km/h to more than 9 km/h, with some areas seeing much larger improvements.
Five locations reported drops of 20 km/h or more, including North Park Drive west of Massy Street, where drivers slowed down by an average of 25.39 km/h. Overall compliance with posted speed limits has risen across all safety zones, from a modest 0.36 per cent improvement on Father Tobin Road to a dramatic 84.3 per cent increase on Rutherford Road North.
The city says the results underscore the effectiveness of ASE technology at curbing speeding near schools and in problem areas. A recent survey by CAA South Central Ontario supports this, showing that 73 per cent of drivers admit to slowing down when approaching a speed camera, and more than half say they resist speeding up after passing one.
Despite public support, not everyone is pleased with Brampton’s expansion of the program. A petition opposing the cameras has gathered nearly 7,500 signatures, claiming residents are “living under constant surveillance.” City Council, however, has doubled down, approving millions in new spending on enforcement officers and a local ASE processing centre, which officials say will not only improve safety but also boost revenue.
The latest batch of 35 cameras is expected to be operational by month’s end, cementing Brampton’s place as one of the most aggressive adopters of speed enforcement technology in Ontario.