Niagara Region is rolling out the first signs for its new automated speed enforcement program.
The signs that say “Municipal Speed Camera Coming Soon” are part of the 90-day notice the province requires before the Region activates them in four of Niagara’s 13 community safety zones.
“The program focuses on making drivers aware of their speed and provides a mechanism to remind people to slow down and make the roads safer for everybody,” said Scott Fraser, the Region’s associated director of transportation planning.
Automated speed enforcement is part of the Region’s “Vision Zero” initiative to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries resulting from vehicle collisions, while improving road safety for all users.
“Automated speed enforcement is a tool other Ontario jurisdictions have successfully used to reduce speed, which is a leading cause of serious injuries,” Fraser said.
“A successful program for us is one where we don’t have to issue any of these tickets. That means that everybody is obeying the rules of the road, and that enhances safety across the region.”
The unveiling of the signs puts the Region on track to begin enforcing speeds in its community safety zones, which tie in with school zones, at the start of the academic year in September. Regional council approved the program, which uses a roadside fixed-camera system, last year.
The cameras will remain in those zones until December, when the Region will move them to four new ones. There are currently 13 community safety zones.
The locations for September include:
- Niagara Falls: Westlane Secondary School, Lundy’s Lane between Kalar Road and Montrose Road;
- St. Catharines: St. Ann Catholic Elementary School, Main Street between Martindale Road and Johnston Street in Port Dalhousie;
- Welland: Alexander Kuska KSG Catholic Elementary School, Rice Road between Quaker and Woodlawn roads;
- West Lincoln: John Calvin School, Station Street between Spring Creek Road and West Street.
Fraser said speed contributes to one-third of fatal collisions across Canada. The automated speed enforcement programs remind motorists about the critical importance of slowing down and protecting vulnerable road users.
“Given that our objective here is to reduce speed. We are trying to be as transparent, open and communicative in terms of where these cameras are,” Fraser said. “That’s why we are undertaking a rigorous outreach campaign. We post the locations on our website and will continue to update the public about where these cameras operate at any one time.”
Fines will vary according to how far above the speed limit the driver is travelling. Because fines are owner-based and attach to the registered plate-holder and not the driver, no demerit points will be assessed, although it could impact your insurance.
After a provincial offences officer reviews the information, the joint processing centre in Toronto will mail the ticket and the information about the violation, including the registered speed, an image of the violation, the total payable, the time of day and the location.
The Region will retain the revenue minus fees collected by the province, including a victim surcharge. The Region will use the remaining funds to offset the program’s cost, which include paying for the contract with the processing centre.
If a driver receives a ticket, there are three options: pay the fine, attend court to plead not guilty and have a trial, or plead guilty and attend court to request more time to pay.
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