The Big Story Ontario opts for no speed cameras...but how will the province stay safe?
Sep 29, 2025
Benjamin Wolfe, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto and co-director of the Applied Perception and Psychophysics Laboratory, discusses Ontario's decision to ban speed cameras. He highlights how speed cameras significantly reduce risky driving behaviors, while alternative traffic calming measures like roundabouts could take longer to implement. Wolfe also addresses the psychological impacts of delayed fines and warns that removing cameras could put vulnerable road users at greater risk. The conversation delves into the balance between driver convenience and overall road safety.
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Speed Cameras Are Highly Effective
- Speed cameras are one of the best tools we have for ensuring road safety because they enforce limits consistently.
- Benjamin Wolfe argues they catch speeding where police cannot be present and protect other road users.
Traffic Calming Works But Is Slow
- Traffic-calming infrastructure like roundabouts and speed bumps work and belong to a broader 'self-explaining roads' approach.
- Wolfe warns implementation is slow and costly, so removal of cameras creates an interim safety gap.
Combine Measures, Don't Rely On One
- Use a mix of lane management and signage rather than relying on any single measure to change driver behavior.
- Combine visual speed indicators with infrastructure to form a comprehensive safety strategy.