Speeding On Toronto Street Jumps After Camera Removal

New traffic data from Toronto shows that speeding on Parkside Drive has increased dramatically after automated speed cameras were removed from the area. According to recent reports, the number of drivers travelling at dangerous speeds on the busy west-end road has jumped by more than 200 percent since the enforcement cameras were taken down.

Parkside Drive has long been considered one of Toronto’s most dangerous streets for speeding and serious crashes. The road connects major traffic routes between Bloor Street and Lake Shore Boulevard and has been the centre of repeated safety debates over the past several years. Local residents and road safety groups say the removal of speed cameras has made the situation significantly worse.

The automated speed camera on Parkside Drive was first installed in 2022 and quickly became one of the busiest enforcement cameras in Toronto. During its operation, the system issued more than 69,000 speeding tickets and collected millions of dollars in fines from drivers caught exceeding the posted 40 km/h speed limit. Data from the camera also showed some vehicles travelling at speeds above 150 km/h on the road.

However, the province later introduced legislation banning automated speed enforcement cameras in Ontario, leading to the removal of devices across Toronto and other communities. Since the camera was removed, new traffic data reportedly shows a sharp increase in dangerous speeding behaviour on Parkside Drive, including more drivers travelling well above safe speed limits.

Residents living near the road say they are increasingly worried about pedestrian safety, especially because the area includes homes, parks, schools, and busy walking routes. Community safety advocates argue that the speed camera helped reduce reckless driving and provided important evidence about how serious the speeding problem had become.

The road already has a history of major crashes. In 2021, two people were killed in a chain-reaction collision at the intersection of Parkside Drive and Spring Road after a driver travelling at extremely high speed crashed into stopped vehicles. The tragedy increased public pressure for stronger road safety measures in the area.

Toronto city officials say they are now studying alternative safety options because the province’s restrictions have limited what changes the city can make on the road. Some proposed solutions include redesigning sections of the street, adding traffic calming measures, improving pedestrian infrastructure, and reducing vehicle speeds through engineering changes. However, officials warn these projects could take years and cost millions of dollars.

Road safety organizations continue criticizing the provincial ban on automated speed cameras, arguing that enforcement technology was one of the few effective tools available to slow dangerous drivers. Some residents also believe political disagreements between the city and province have delayed urgently needed safety improvements.

Meanwhile, drivers and critics of speed cameras argue that automated enforcement unfairly targeted motorists and generated large amounts of revenue for municipalities. Online discussions about the issue remain highly divided, with some people supporting stricter enforcement while others prefer road redesigns and physical traffic calming measures instead of cameras.

City officials say further discussions about Parkside Drive’s future are expected in the coming months as Toronto searches for long-term solutions to reduce speeding and improve safety for residents, cyclists, and pedestrians using one of the city’s most controversial roads.