Speeding fines may double around Toronto schools

Bttoronto.ca
June 13, 2018
Betty Wondimu

Toronto is considering doubling speed fines around elementary schools in an effort to slow motorists down, and photo radar could be a part of the picture too.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee is considering a report Tuesday that would replace existing school zones with new community safety zones around more than 750 elementary schools.

Unlike school zones, community safety zones wouldn’t have a perimeter limit of 150 meters and drivers would have to pay attention to signage, flashing lights and zebra-style road markings to identify the zones.

If approved by council, speeding fines would increase and the city would be one step closer to using photo radar to catch drivers in these zones. For photo radar to become a reality, the province would have to enact regulations in the Safer School Zones Act first.

The report under review is a part of the city’s Vision Zero safety plan, which aims to bring the number of road deaths in Toronto to zero.

At least two young children have died so far this year while getting dropped off or picked up from Toronto schools.