Mississauga adds 10 more speed enforcement cameras to slow down drivers in school zones
Published October 18, 2021 at 12:48 pm
Encouraged by early numbers that show drivers are slowing down, Mississauga has set up 10 more speed enforcement cameras in neighbourhoods across the city.
Launched July 5, the City of Mississauga’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) camera program has resulted in reduced speeds and increased compliance with speed limits on at least two local streets near school zones, the City says.
The 10 new ASE cameras were put in place this month and by December, the City plans to have a full complement of 22 cameras up and running. Locations of the speed-reduction devices, which are to be rotated among different speeding hot spots near schools in Mississauga, are made public by the City.
Numbers from the first month of the campaign show average speeds on Morning Star Dr. in Malton (between Lancaster Ave. and Netherwood Rd.) decreased by about 11 km/h while speeds on Sawmill Valley Dr. in Erin Mills (between Folkway Dr. and Grosvenor Place) were down by 9 km/h.
Furthermore, the data shows, 41 per cent more motorists are following posted speed limits in that area of Morning Star Dr. while 28 per cent more drivers are doing the same on the identified section of Sawmill Valley Dr., which runs through a neighbourhood north of Burnhamthorpe Rd. and just east of Erin Mills Pkwy.
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Posted speed limits in both areas, which are school zones, is 30 km/h.
“These early results are an encouraging sign that drivers are slowing down and following the speed limit. Speeding is dangerous, especially in residential neighbourhoods and near schools. We must continue to use every tool we have to make our roads safer for everyone,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “No one likes to get a speeding ticket, but road safety is a priority.”
The City says 495 tickets were issued at the first two ASE camera locations during the month-long campaign–298 at Morning Star Dr. and 197 at Sawmill Valley Dr.
During that period, 55 repeat offenders received tickets, and the highest speed ticketed on Morning Star Dr. was 67 km/h while the highest on Sawmill Valley Dr. was 71 km/h.
As the ASE program moves forward, the City says advance notice signs will continue to be used to let residents know when and where ASE cameras will be installed.
When a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit in an ASE area, the ASE system captures an image. After that, a provincial offences officer reviews the image and issues a ticket. The ticket, including a digital copy of the image and an enlargement of the license plate, is mailed to the registered plate holder within 30 days of the offence.
Tickets are issued to the owner of the vehicle regardless of who was driving. No demerit points will be issued and the registered owner’s driving record will not be impacted.
“Our ASE cameras are rotating on a regular basis through school area Community Safety Zones where speeding has proven to be a persistent problem,” said Geoff Wright, Mississauga’s commissioner of transportation and works. “These cameras are making a difference; they are helping make our roads safer and raising awareness about the need to follow posted speed limits.”
City staff is monitoring the data from the ASE cameras to improve the long-term effectiveness of the program. The data is also being used to plan for future phases of the program, which could include installing additional cameras and putting cameras on different types of roadways.
According to Ontario Regulations, ASE Cameras can only be installed in community safety zones where the speed limit is less than 80 km/h.
As part of the Neighbourhood Area Speed Limit project, the City is identifying school area community safety zones and lowering speed limits across Mississauga. As new speed limits are put in place, the City will determine which areas are best suited for ASE cameras.
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