'Crawling along like snails': Speed camera makes immediate impact in Stouffville

Yorkreigon.com
Feb. 27, 2023

Nobody has had a better view of speeding problems on Ninth Line in Stouffville in recent years than Sharon Mitchison.

For the last four years she has been the crossing guard at the Ninth Line and Elm Road for students walking to Glad Park Public School and St. Marks Catholic Elementary School.

Getting cars to stop on the stretch was often difficult. “It was hard because of the speed. Some cars were going too fast to stop,” she said.

Mitchison said some parents told her they avoid the crossing altogether because they felt it was too dangerous.

But changes are coming. York Region installed a pedestrian crossover at the intersection last year and recently installed an automated speed camera on the stretch. It didn’t take long for Mitchison to notice a change.

“Already this morning there is a huge difference with a speed camera. It was immediate,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it. They were just crawling along like snails, which made it much easier to stop the cars.”

York Region manager of corridor control and safety Nelson Costa said automated speed enforcement allows municipalities to use technology to help reduce speeding, and increase safety in community safety and school zones.

“In 20-plus years experience in road safety, (this) automated speed enforcement tool is having the most significant impact in changing driver behaviour,” Costa said. “Automotive speed enforcement is having a significant impact in comparison to some of these other tools.”

Late in 2019, York Region authorized automated speed enforcement and a two-year pilot program was started in 2020. The speed camera was put in place in 12 community safety zones. The results were significant.

With a speed camera in operation, the average vehicle speed dropped nine kilometres per hour (km/h) and compliance with speed limit jumped from 22 per cent to 50 per cent.

With such successful results, the region is expanding the program rapidly over the next four years with two additional speed enforcement cameras this year and 60 more planned for between 2024 and 2026 as well as 15 more red light cameras.

In 2023, Stouffville will see the speed camera located on Ninth Line. A roadside sign will be in place when the camera is operating. Stouffville council was excited about the potential for automated speed enforcement to curb speeding in town.

Mayor Iain Lovatt said there is no speeding in Melbourne, Australia because they have speed cameras. “It’s well documented that they work,” he said. “We all know that speed is the number 1 complaint that reaches our inboxes from residents.”

Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban said the speed cameras are great, but because they are only put on regional roads at the moment, it does little to help speeding issues on local roads like Hoover Park Drive. “The speed that happens on our smaller streets is unrealistic,” she said.

Ward 2 Coun. Maurice Smith said another spot, in front of Ballantrae Public School, on Aurora Road should be added for consideration in the future program.

“Every member of council will have a favourite place to put these,” Ward 1 Coun. Hugo T. Kroon said.

Lovatt said the town would be interested in expanding automated speed enforcement within the region in the future to try address concerns about local roads. The matter was put forward to be considered as part of the 2024 budget.

Costa said the average speeding ticket from the program in 2022 was $75. 

Photo radar fines follow set fines from the Ontario court of justice: one to 19 km/h over the speed limit is $5 per kilometre; 20 to 29 km/h over the speed limit is $7.50 per kilometre; 30 to 39 km/h over the speed limit is $12 per kilometre; and 50 km/h or more over the speed limit is settled in court.

There is also a victim surcharge fine that ranges from $10 to $125 depending on how big the ticket is.