Toronto’s photo radar cameras have been catching fewer and fewer speeders at their current locations. Here’s where they are being moved to next

Thestar.com
Nov. 9, 2020
David Rider

Toronto’s 50 photo radar cameras are on the move to new locations after nabbing almost 10,000 speeders in a month -- a reduction over their first two months.

The “automated speed enforcement devices” installed this summer in a bid to halt what Mayor John Tory called a deadly “epidemic” of reckless driving triggered 9,719 tickets between Sept. 6 and Oct. 6.

The cameras -- two in each ward -- triggered 22,301 tickets in their first month, between July and August, and 15,175 tickets between August and September.

City transportation staff say it’s too early to say photo radar is responsible for the reduction in speeders. Data is still being analyzed, but the city “is hopeful the drop in the number of tickets issued is a result of better speed limit compliance.”

As planned, the cameras are being moved to new locations, still two per city ward, where they will catch leadfoots for between three to six months before being moved again. Warning signs are being posted at the new sites.

The bad news is that even with the reduction there are still many people dramatically blowing the speed limit, even in residential areas -- including drivers who do it over and over again.

The camera on Gateway Boulevard issued the most tickets at 955 between September and October, accounting for almost 10 per cent of all tickets.

The highest fine of $706 was issued to a “Dr.r” going 78 km/h in 30 km/h zone on Bicknell Avenue, south of Avon Drive.

Some 604 vehicles got multiple tickets, which are issued based on the vehicle because the cameras can’t identify drivers. Patricia Avenue, west of Homewood Avenue, was a repeat offender hot zone.

But the number of repeat offenders dropped over the three months along with the overall number of tickets. The cameras have only operated during reduced traffic levels triggered by the pandemic.

Tory, who started lobbying the Ontario government for photo radar installation permission in 2016 and finally got it last year, said in a statement that the cameras -- aimed at making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists -- are working.

“Each month, fewer drivers were caught speeding in school and community safety zones where they’ve been placed, and they are helping to keep vulnerable people, especially school children, in these communities safer,” he said.

“It’s clear that more people are changing their driving behaviour and I hope that moving these devices to new locations in November will see the same encouraging and almost immediate results.”

The 50 new photo radar locations are:

Ward 1 (Etobicoke North): Golfdown Dr., east of Turpin Ave.

Ward 1 (Etobicoke North): Mount Olive Dr., west of Kipling Ave.

Ward 2 (Etobicoke Centre): The Kingsway, south of Hartfield Rd.

Ward 2 (Etobicoke Centre): Mill Rd., north of Bloor St. W.

Ward 3 (Etobicoke Lakeshore): Mimico Ave., west of Station Rd.

Ward 3 (Etobicoke Lakeshore): Stanley Ave., near Elizabeth St.

Ward 4 (Parkdale High Park): Willard Ave., near Rexford Rd

Ward 4 (Parkdale High Park): Mountview Ave., near 51 Mountview Ave.

Ward 5 (York-South Weston): Rockcliffe Blvd., near Rockcliffe Court

Ward 5 (York-South Weston): Jane St., north of Lambton Ave

Ward 6 (York Centre): Ancaster Rd., near Plewes Rd.

Ward 6 (York Centre): Dovehouse Ave., west of Keele St.

Ward 7 (Humber River-Black Creek): Topcliff Ave., near 96 Topcliff Ave.

Ward 7 (Humber River-Black Creek): Gracedale Blvd., near Crimscott Rd.

Ward 8 (Eglinton-Lawrence): Avenue Rd., near Castlefield Ave.

Ward 8 (Eglinton-Lawrence): Bedford Park Ave., west of Yonge St.

Ward 9 (Davenport): Laughton Ave., near Talbot St.

Ward 9 (Davenport): Ruskin Ave., west of Perth Ave.

Ward 10 (Spadina Fort-York): Denison Ave., south of Grange Ave.

Ward 10 (Spadina Fort-York): Brant St., south of Adelaide St. West

Ward 11 (University-Rosedale): Orde St., west of Murray St.

Ward 11 (University-Rosedale): Essex St., west of Christie St.

Ward 12 (Toronto-St. Paul’s): Ava Rd., east of Westover Hill Rd.

Ward 12 (Toronto-St. Paul’s): Tweedsmuir Ave., south of Heath St. West

Ward 13 (Toronto Centre): Sherbourne St., south of Wellesley St. East

Ward 13 (Toronto Centre): Berkeley St., south of Gerrard St. East

Ward 14 (Toronto Danforth): Dundas St. East, east of Broadview Ave.

Ward 14 (Toronto Danforth): Lesmount Ave., south of Cosburn Ave.

Ward 15 (Don Valley West): Erskine Ave., west of Redpath Ave.

Ward 15 (Don Valley West): Thorncliffe Park Dr., near 79 Thorncliffe Park Dr.

Ward 16 (Don Valley East): Fenside Dr., south of Roywood Dr.

Ward 16 (Don Valley East): Underhill Dr., near Beveridge Dr.

Ward 17 (Don Valley North): Sheppard Ave. East, west of Don Mills Rd.

Ward 17 (Don Valley North): Seneca Hill Dr., west of Don Mills Rd.

Ward 18 (Willowdale): Doris Ave., north of Spring Garden Ave.

Ward 18 (Willowdale): Church Ave., east of Doris Ave.

Ward 19 (Beaches-East York): Kingston Rd., near Heyworth Cres.

Ward 19 (Beaches-East York): Spruce Hill Rd., north of Queen St. E.

Ward 20 (Scarborough Southwest): Edge Park Ave., east of Victoria Park Ave.

Ward 20 (Scarborough Southwest): Birchcliff Ave., near Freeman St.

Ward 21 (Scarborough Centre): Ellesmere Rd., east of Mondeo Dr.

Ward 21 (Scarborough Centre): Gooderham Dr., south of Murray Glen Dr.

Ward 22 (Scarborough Agincourt): Birchmount Rd., north of Bay Mills Blvd.

Ward 22 (Scarborough Agincourt): Southlawn Dr., near Buena Vista Ave.

Ward 23 (Scarborough North): McCowan Rd., north of Kenhatch Blvd.

Ward 23 (Scarborough North): Brimwood Blvd., near Bridley Dr.

Ward 24 (Scarborough-Guildwood): Scarborough Golf Club Rd., north of Lawrence Ave. E.

Ward 24 (Scarborough-Guildwood): Holmfirth Terrace, west of Vanwart Dr.

Ward 25 (Scarborough-Rouge Park): Charlottetown Blvd., near McCulley St.

Ward 25 (Scarborough Rouge Park): Durnford Rd., north of Rylander Blvd.