Driving Safer Communities: City launches 12-month pilot of Automated Speed Enforcement in school zones and community safety zones

HAMILTON, ON – To help increase the safety of vulnerable road users in school zones and community safety zones, the City of Hamilton will activate its Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras and start issuing tickets to speeding drivers beginning on October 1, 2020.

As part of the one-year pilot, the City has identified 12 locations across Hamilton based on speed data captured by the City. ASE camera locations were selected based on data that indicates where speed and collisions have been a problem in community safety zones or schools zones.The City will have two cameras operating at one location at a time over the course of one year.

If a vehicle is detected travelling in excess of the posted speed limit in an ASE-enforced area, the registered owner of the vehicle will receive a ticket regardless of who was driving. Offenders will be fined but demerit points will not be applied. Ticket holders should refer to the information on their ticket or visit the City of Hamilton’s Provincial Offenses webpage at: hamilton.ca/POA

Beginning in December, the City will publish program data, including the number of tickets issued at each location on a monthly basis.

The Automated Speed Enforcement program supports the City of Hamilton Vision Zero Action Plan and the principles of Vision Zero to reduce speeds and overall injuries as a result of motor vehicle collisions.

For more information about the program and a list of Automated Speed Enforcement camera locations, visit: www.hamilton.ca/automatedspeedenforcement 

“Our community’s vision is for zero fatalities or serious accidents on our streets and roads. That’s why we are introducing Automated Speed Enforcement in select school zones and community safety zones known for high levels of speeding. We believe this will increase driver awareness of posted speed limits and significantly decrease injuries and fatalities as a result of motor vehicle collisions. This will help to keep our neighbourhoods and roadways safe for everyone.” - Mayor Fred Eisenberger

“Automated Speed Enforcement is just one of the contributing components in achieving our goal of Vision Zero in Hamilton. Engineering, education initiatives, police enforcement and the introduction of the ASE program in the city will increase the safety of our vulnerable populations in school zones and community safety zones.”- Edward Soldo, Director of Transportation Operations and Maintenance

Quick facts

• In February 2019, Hamilton City Council Hamilton approved the Hamilton Strategic Road Safety Program and Vision Zero Action Plan that identified the need for reduced speed limits on local residential roadways and in designated school zones.
• On January 13, 2020, Council directed staff to initiate a one-year automated speed enforcement pilot program to be used in designated school zones and community safety zones through the City of Hamilton.
• Speeding is one of the largest contributing factors in the cause and severity of collisions. Pedestrians have a 41 per cent higher chance of survival if struck by a car driving 40 km/hr than a car driving 50 km/hr.

Additional resources

• hamilton.ca/automatedspeedenforcement
• https://www.aseontario.com/