municipalities encouraged to eliminate photo radar cameras by Premier Ford; 24 new cameras deployed in Ottawa by authorities.

The City of Ottawa is taking steps to enhance road safety, with the installation of 24 new automated speed enforcement cameras set to take place by the end of the year. The locations for these cameras have been announced, including on Bank Street outside Lansdowne Park and in various other areas such as Dunrobin, Manotick, and Richmond.

The move is part of the City's Road Safety Action Plan, which employs education, engineering, and enforcement to promote road safety for all road users. The revenue generated from Ottawa's photo radar cameras supports this initiative.

The installation of these cameras follows a council-approved plan to install 15 to 20 cameras a year during the 2022-2026 term. Currently, there are 60 photo radar cameras set up in community safety zones, school zones, and "high speed" areas across the city.

Signs must be installed to advise drivers that the camera is in operation. Compliance with the speed limit has shown significant improvements following the installation of these cameras. Within three months of a camera being installed, compliance increased to 57 per cent, and after one year, there was a 69 per cent increase in compliance.

However, not everyone is in favour of the use of photo radar cameras. Ford, the Premier of Ontario, described these cameras as "nothing but a tax grab." Premier Doug Ford is urging municipalities to remove photo radar cameras.

In a contrasting scenario, the Ontario government passed legislation in 2017 to allow municipalities to set up photo radar cameras in community safety and school zones. Despite this, there have been reports of vandalism involving speed cameras in other cities, such as Toronto, where more than 800 incidents have been reported this year.

In a recent development, Toronto police are investigating after at least 10 photo radar cameras were cut down across the city overnight. This incident highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the use of these cameras.

Despite the controversy, the City of Ottawa remains committed to its Road Safety Action Plan and the installation of these new cameras. The locations for the new cameras include Abbott Street East, Bank Street, Bearbrook Road, Carriere Street, Conroy Road, Donald Street, Dunrobin Road (Village of Dunrobin), Fisher Avenue (2 locations), Klondike Road, Lanark Avenue, Longfields Drive, Manotick Main Street (Village of Manotick), McArthur Avenue, Meadowlands Drive East, Old Richmond Road, Osgoode Main Street, Perth Street (Village of Richmond), River Run Avenue, Rockdale Road, St. Georges Street, Stonehaven Drive, Valin Street, Woodridge Crescent, and Bayshore Drive near Bayshore Public School.

As the installation process continues, it remains to be seen how the new cameras will impact road safety in Ottawa.

municipalities encouraged to eliminate photo radar cameras by Premier Ford; 24 new cameras deployed in Ottawa by authorities.