Physical Traffic Calming Measures Provide Immediate Safety in School Zones, Unlike Delayed Camera Enforcement

As Ontario municipalities continue expanding automated speed enforcement (ASE) camera programs near schools, traffic safety experts and policy analysts are drawing renewed attention to the effectiveness of physical traffic calming measures. Unlike cameras that issue tickets by mail days or weeks after a speeding offence, infrastructure such as speed humps, raised crosswalks, and narrowed lanes force drivers to slow down at the point of hazard.

According to the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), vertical deflection devices are among the most effective methods of reducing vehicle speeds in areas with high pedestrian activity, including school zones. These measures provide real-time speed control without the need for enforcement.

In contrast, ASE programs rely on retrospective penalties. Drivers caught speeding by a roadside camera receive a ticket in the mail, typically several days after the incident. While this may contribute to long-term behaviour changes, it does not prevent speeding in the moment or guarantee pedestrian safety during school hours.

A peer-reviewed study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that speed humps were associated with a 53 to 60 percent reduction in the odds of children being injured or killed by a vehicle. The study focused on residential neighbourhoods and school areas where children are most vulnerable. PMC1448312

Additional research conducted in the United Kingdom compared different speed management methods. It found that vertical traffic calming measures reduced personal injury collisions by approximately 44 percent, while fixed speed cameras achieved a reduction of about 22 percent. ResearchGate: Mountain et al.

In Toronto, the city’s ASE program led to a 45 percent reduction in speeding incidents near schools, according to a July 2025 report by Toronto Metropolitan University. However, the city has not released data on whether pedestrian injuries or fatalities decreased as a result of the program. TMU July 2025

Currently, many municipalities, including Guelph, have not made publicly available any data on pedestrian injuries or near-misses in school zones prior to or following the implementation of automated enforcement. This lack of baseline data has led to questions about the necessity and proportionality of such measures.

Meanwhile, the City of Vaughan has suspended its ASE program altogether. On September 15, 2025, Vaughan City Council passed a motion to terminate the use of automated speed cameras and instead focus on physical traffic calming and alternative speed-reduction strategies near schools. The same motion also requested York Region to suspend ASE on regional roads within city limits. The initiative will be considered further during Vaughan’s 2026 budget process.

ASE cameras have also faced criticism for offering only spot-based deterrence. Drivers may slow down when passing a camera location, but resume speeding shortly afterward. In contrast, permanent physical features such as speed humps and raised crossings cannot be bypassed and remain effective regardless of driver intent or awareness.

While automated enforcement may play a role in broader traffic policy, experts note that infrastructure-based approaches provide continuous and immediate benefits. In areas where vulnerable road users are present, such as near schools, engineering interventions continue to outperform enforcement-based strategies in terms of on-the-spot safety.