Data shows speeds increased 'modestly' after province outlawed speed cameras

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Recent data from county speed cameras shows vehicle speeds have increased "modestly" since the province outlawed the devices in November.

Wellington County's automated speed enforcement program (ASE) ran for 10 months and included seven cameras in community safety zones throughout the county.

With approval from Alberta-based Global Traffic Group, the company that owns the cameras, the county decided to continue collecting speed data – but not images of vehicles – until September.

A report on vehicle speeds at each location before, during and after the ASE program ended, was presented on March 10 to the county roads committee.

It shows speed limit compliance has decreased to 51% since the end of the trial, when it was at 71%.

Average speeds have increased "modestly," but they remain about 16 per cent lower than those seen prior to the ASE program, the report states.

The committee is hoping the numbers "stay where they're at and don't increase as the weather gets better," roads committee chair Gregg Davidson told the Advertiser.

He said the warm spell in late February and early March was likely a factor in the increase.

"We will be implementing some safety measures to slow vehicles down when spring hits," he added.

That will likely start with additional speed radar signs and centre line bollards, roads manager Don Kudo explained.

Other measures include pedestrian crossings and concrete medians, which will be installed in the summer because they require underground infrastructure.

"It takes a little bit longer than putting a sign in the ground," Kudo said.

Davidson is hopeful the county can continue collecting speed data come September.

"We might be able to put in alternative monitoring at those locations after our contract with Global is complete," Davidson said.

He mentioned something similar to OPP speed monitoring systems, "just to see what the speeds are at a certain point in time."

"We're very hopeful the measures being put in place come springtime to slow vehicles down ... will do the trick," Davison said.

Financial impact

To fund additional safety measures, the county will use a grant from the province's recently launched Road Safety Initiatives Fund (RSIF).

The program is slated to provide $210 million over the next two years to municipalities affected by the province’s decision to outlaw speed cameras.

"The county has been allocated $2.1 million in total and that includes the $210,000 they previously provided us," Kudo said of the cheque the county received shortly after the November decision.

Safety measures proposed for the seven locations are expected to cost close to $1.36 million, including $975,000 in 2026 and $350,000 in 2027, plus $34,650 for ongoing speed monitoring.

Based on the county's RSIF allocation of $2.1 million, about $740,000 will be left over for other speed management measures at the seven ASE locations.

“We will have to apply for that funding based on different aspects we think we could implement at the seven locations," said Kudo.

"We can only do the seven locations."