Drivers speeding up in county’s community safety zones since camera enforcement stopped
Data captured by former speed cameras indicates just 44% of drivers obey speed limits in safety zones
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Since Wellington County’s speed cameras stopped ticketing in November, more than 80 per cent of northbound drivers were recorded speeding on Main Street in Rockwood.
During the county’s automated speed enforcement (ASE) trial from January to November last year, fewer than half sped – a significant drop from 96% of drivers who sped before the cameras went up.
It’s the worst location for speeders among seven former ASE locations across the county’s municipalities, according to a staff report to the county roads committee.
“Overall, the data collected shows that speeds have increased since the end of the ASE program,” county engineer Don Kudo stated in the September report.
The province made automated enforcement illegal in November, but county council voted to keep cameras running until this month, tracking vehicle speeds and traffic volumes in the community safety zones.
Jordan Snobelen
The county agreed to spend $34,650 to continue using 14 Global Traffic Group-owned cameras at $275 per month, per camera, over nine months.
This month’s update was the third since November, following others in March and June, each showing compliance slipping a little more every time.
Across the county safety zones, 44% of drivers obey the speed limit, down from 71% during the trial, from 51% in March and 47% in June.
Despite declining compliance, speeds are still around 14% lower, on average, than they were prior to camera installations. In March speeds were 16% lower, and in June 15%.
The report also notes the 85th percentile, a measure of how fast most drivers feel safe travelling, dropped by 21% while cameras were up, but has since climbed 6%.
“Overall, the data collected shows that speeds have increased since the end of the ASE program in November 2025 until August 2026 but remain well below speeds observed before the implementation of the ASE program,” Kudo stated.
“Additionally, there has been very little change in the vehicle speed data from the review reported in March and June 2026.”
Georgia York
In March, roads committee chair Gregg Davidson told the Advertiser the committee hoped speeds would remain “where they’re at.”
More recently, Davidson said it’s “very unfortunate” speeds are creeping back up.
“I think we need to have more traffic enforcement, period. One way or another we need to figure out a way to slow people down,” he said, adding, “the cameras absolutely work.”
Local trends
In Fergus, travelling westbound on Belsyde Avenue, 81% of drivers sped before cameras were installed. That fell to 38% during enforcement and has since risen to 70%.
In Aberfoyle, travelling southbound on Brock Road, 98% were speeding before the cameras. That fell to 36% during enforcement and has since risen to 66%.
In Hillsburgh, travelling westbound on Trafalgar Road, 89% were speeding before. That fell to 36% and has since risen to 66%.
In Drayton, southbound on Wellington Street, 82% were speeding before the cameras. That fell to 25% and has since risen to 52%.
In Mount Forest, northbound on Sligo Road, 93% were speeding before the cameras. That fell to 15% and has since risen to 25%.
In Palmerston, eastbound on Main Street, 92% were speeding before. That fell to 16% and has since risen to 21%.
Traffic calming measures
Back in March, Davidson also hoped upcoming safety measures planned for the spring would slow drivers.
The province provided new signage and the county used funds from the province for traffic-calming infrastructure, installing centre-line bollards, speed radar signs, pedestrian crossings and painted median lines.
The province has allocated $2.1 million to the county from the Road Safety Initiatives Fund, $1.89 million of which the county has yet to apply for. (The province provided the county with $210,000 last year.)
Jordan Snobelen
The varied measures installed so far across the county haven’t stopped speeds from increasing, and it’s unclear how much of an effect they’ve had.
“Because there is no longer a monetary punishment, there are going to be those that will disregard those signs … or whatever we do,” Davidson told the Advertiser.
Should council approve a road committee recommendation later this month, county staff will be exploring the possibility of speed humps in community safety zones. A report would then follow in November.
Though Global Traffic Group has yet to remove its cameras from Wellington roads, county engineer Don Kudo said the cameras are “no longer monitoring traffic.”
