Changes coming to automated speed enforcement

The municipal use of automated speed enforcement cameras has been repealed by the government of Ontario, effective November 14, 2025.

The use of automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras has been repealed by the Province of Ontario under Bill 56 – Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025. The change will take effect November 14, 2025.

Automated speed enforcement cameras will continue to be used in Ottawa in school zones and community safety zones as usual until that date. Any infractions incurred by motorists prior to November 14 will still be processed and vehicle owners will be required to pay the fine, even if it arrives after the repeal date.

The repeal does not affect red light cameras. Any infractions captured by these cameras will continue to be processed and mailed to vehicle owners as usual. Other than the removal of automated speed enforcement cameras, community safety zones – which are designated to protect vulnerable road users like children and cyclists – remain in place. To reinforce safety, fines for certain offences – like speeding or careless driving – issued by Ottawa Police Services within these designated zones will remain doubled.

As a result of Bill 56, automated speed enforcement cameras shall be replaced with specific school zones signs that meet the legislation’s outlined design and dimension requirements. While many schools across the City already have school zone signage in place, these existing signs do not align with the standards outlined in Bill 56. Once received by the Province, Traffic Services will work on installing the new required signage at all 72 schools with existing automated speed enforcement cameras as soon as operationally possible.

The City’s automated speed enforcement program had made significant progress in reducing speeds, particularly in school areas where vulnerable road users, such as children, are present. Improvements to driver behaviour have been observed at all ASE sites, including the eight original locations that were part of the City’s ASE pilot which show: 

• Posted speed limit compliance
  • Prior to camera implementation at the eight pilot sites, only 16 per cent of drivers were compliant with posted speed limits
  • Within three months of camera implementation, compliance increased to 57 per cent
  • After one year, compliance increased to 69 per cent
  • After three years, compliance is 81 per cent
• High-end speeding – motorists travelling 15 km/h above the posted speed limit
  • Prior to camera implementation at the eight pilot sites, 14 per cent of drivers were high-end speeders
  • Within three months of camera implementation the percentage of high-end speeders decreased to four per cent
  • After one year, the percentage of high-end speeders decreased to two per cent
  • After three years, only 0.7 percent of drivers are high-end speeders

Data collected shows that aggressive driving, including speeding consistently contributes to fatal and major injury collisions in Ottawa. Younger children often have limited experience with traffic, and lack the skills to negotiate traffic safely, motorists need to take special care while driving. Help our children get to school safely by following these important safety rules:

• Reduce speed near schools
• Look for school zone signage
• Be ready to stop at all times: children do not always notice oncoming traffic
• Always try to make eye contact with children wanting to cross the road
• Be patient and wait for children to complete their crossing before proceeding
• Obey all yield, stop and traffic signal controls. It's the law
• Stop when a STOP paddle is held up by a crossing guard

The City’s Road Safety Action Plan remains committed to focusing the City’s efforts where they can have the greatest impact on reducing collisions resulting in major injury or death. The plan is delivered by internal partners involved in the education, enforcement and engineering aspects of road safety. The plan is developed to identify specific countermeasures or actions to be undertaken and is an integrated, comprehensive, and proactive strategy for making our roads safer for all users and for continuing to advance toward zero fatal and major injury collisions.