WELLINGTON COUNTY – The idea of automated speed enforcement in school and Community Safety Zones will be studied by the county.
On Feb. 24 Wellington County council approved a motion to direct county staff to conduct a cost/benefit analysis and facilitate discussions with lower tier municipalities on the topic and bring a report to the county’s roads committee for discussion.
The motion was introduced by councillor Gregg Davidson.
“I think it’s very important that we put forward this to staff and come back to the roads committee so we can have a good a good discussion on it,” said Davidson.
The motion points out automated speed enforcement has been authorized for use by Ontario municipalities to address issues with speeding in school zones and community safety zones since 2017.
The motion states “evidence-based research provincially, nationally and internationally indicates that the use of automated speed enforcement reduces the overall speed on affected roadways and therefore has potential to enhance road safety.”
It also points out the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police has called for the expansion and mandated use of the technology.
Warden Kelly Linton voiced support for the idea of the study.
“The timing is right. It’s following (passage of) our roads master plan. The approach is right because it’s involving staff and so I fully support the recommendation,” said Linton.
The county’s Master Roads Action Plan, approved in January, creates nine Community Safety Zones in municipalities around the county in areas where speeding and traffic concerns are high.
A Community Safety Zone is a designated stretch of roadway marked with provincially legislated Community Safety Zone signs. Rules of the road do not change within the designated zones, but the penalties for violations are significantly increased.
“I have no problem having it go to staff and having them look at it and getting some ideas back to us. I think they have to use all the tools in our toolbox,” said councillor George Bridge.
“I like the analogy of calling this a tool in our toolbox,” said councillor Andy Lennox.
“But whenever I get a new tool I need to learn about the tool and how to use it and so I look forward to the information on how best to use this tool.”
Councillor Jeff Duncan also supported the move to gather more information.
“So if you do have concerns about whether the cameras are overreach, or if there are going to be additional cameras and all those kinds of things, or is it a cash grab, or is it a revenue tool … those are all decisions that county council will make in the future and this is really just to give us the information so that we can have further discussion,” Duncan said.
The motion was approved unanimously.
