Toronto Sees 380% Rise in Speeding After Province Removes Cameras

Toronto is experiencing a dramatic surge in speeding incidents, with a 380% increase reported since the provincial government ordered the removal of automated speed cameras across the city in November 2025. City staff analysis indicates that vehicle speeds have escalated at 101 out of 104 locations where comparable data was available.

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People are driving like it’s a highway; it’s a school zone for God’s sake. So bring back those speed cameras because this is almost inexcusable.

The proportion of vehicles traveling 11 km/h or more over the posted speed limit has jumped from 2% to 8.1%. This increase was particularly pronounced on streets with a 30 km/h speed limit, typically local roads rather than major arterials. In the six months following the cameras' removal, Toronto recorded 25 fatal collisions, with two occurring within 100 meters of former camera locations.

Mayor Olivia Chow expressed strong support for reinstating the cameras, stating, "People are driving like it's a highway; it's a school zone for God's sake." She urged the province to return the cameras, calling them "the only tool that actually works to save lives."

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We are doing everything that we can; we cannot do more. The premier has to give us back the only tool that actually works to save lives, and that’s speed cameras.

However, the provincial government, which Premier Doug Ford had previously labeled the cameras a "cash grab," maintains its position. Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria argued that Toronto needs to invest in infrastructure like speed bumps to effectively slow drivers. His office noted that the city had received $10 million from the Road Safety Initiative Fund to implement traffic calming measures.

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If we want to reduce speeding on whether it’s Parkside or other roads where speeding is a concern, we need to install infrastructure like speed bumps. If you have a speed bump there, you will not be able to speed, and you will not be able to get at a higher speed.