Less than 50% of drivers following speed limit at former Ottawa photo radar camera locations

Less than half of drivers complied with the posted speed limit at eight former photo radar locations across Ottawa in May, according to new data from the City of Ottawa.

The Ontario government passed legislation last fall to ban automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras on roads across the province and required municipalities to turn off the cameras by Nov. 14, 2025. Municipalities need to install large new signs to slow down drivers in areas where photo radar cameras were located, with permanent, large signs with flashing lights to be in place by September.

• Here’s where the City of Ottawa will install speed cushions, humps at former photo radar locations

The City of Ottawa has been collecting speed data at the locations of the eight original photo radar cameras that were installed as part of a pilot project in 2020.

Data available on the city’s website shows compliance with the posted speed limit ranged between 20 per cent and 50 per cent at the eight spots in May, compared to a range of 25 per cent to 64 per cent compliance in April. In October, the final full month for the photo radar cameras, compliance at the eight locations ranged from 86 per cent to 94 per cent.

Only 20 per cent of drivers complied with the posted speed limit on Katimavik Drive, between Castlefrank Road and McGibbon Drive, in May. Compliance with the speed limit was 86 per cent last October and 37 per cent in April.

According to the data, the average speed of drivers on Katimavik Drive was 47 km/h last month, up from 43 km/h in April. The statistics show 11.3 per cent of drivers were considered high-speed drivers, which is 15 km/h or more over the speed limit.

Compliance with the speed limit at the former photo radar camera location on Ogilvie Road dropped from 64 per cent in April to 48 per cent in May. The average speed recorded by the city was 50 km/h in May, up from 47 km/h in April.

The data shows compliance with the speed limit increased at five of the eight former photo radar locations in May, but less than half of drivers were still complying with the speed limit.

At the former photo radar camera location on Longfields Drive, compliance with the speed limit increased from 25 per cent in April to 50 per cent in May. The average speed dropped from 45 km/h in April to 39 km/h in May.

The percentage of drivers complying with the speed limit at former photo radar locations in May was 33 per cent on Innes Road (35 per cent in April), 38 per cent on Bayshore Drive (31 per cent in April), 26 per cent on Watters Drive (24 per cent in April), 48 per cent on Smyth Road (47 per cent in April) and 40 per cent on Meadowlands Drive (35 per cent in April).

The City of Ottawa will be installing traffic calming measures and signage at all former photo radar locations, including speed humps and cushions at 29 spots.

Compliance with the speed limit

A look at the percentage of drivers complying with the posted speed limit at the eight original photo radar locations and the average speed of drivers at the camera locations. Data courtesy City of Ottawa Open Data.

Longfields Drive

• October 2025: 91 per cent compliance
• December 2025: 62 per cent compliance
• March 2026: 38 per cent compliance
• April 2026: 25 per cent compliance
• May 2026: 50 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 35 km/h
• Average speed recorded in April 2026: 45 km/h
• Average speed recorded in May 2026: 39 km/h

Innes Road

• October 2025: 88 per cent compliance
• December 2025: 50 per cent compliance
• March 2026: 38 per cent compliance
• April 2026: 35 per cent compliance
• May 2026: 33 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 54 km/h
• Average speed recorded in April 2026: 63 km/h
• Average speed recorded in May 2026: 64 km/h

Bayshore Drive

• October 2025: 88 per cent compliance
• December 2025: 32 per cent compliance
• March 2026: 34 per cent compliance
• April 2026: 31 per cent compliance
• May 2026: 38 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 34 km/h
• Average speed recorded in April 2026: 44 km/h
• Average speed recorded in May 2026: 43 km/h

Katimavik Road

• October 2025: 86 per cent compliance
• December 2025: 58 per cent compliance
• March 2026: 29 per cent compliance
• April 2026: 37 per cent compliance
• May 2026: 20 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 35 km/h
• Average speed recorded in April 2026: 43 km/h
• Average speed recorded in May 2026: 47 km/h

Watters Drive

• October 2025: 88 per cent compliance
• December 2025: 38 per cent compliance
• March 2026: 23 per cent compliance
• April 2026: 24 per cent compliance
• May 2026: 26 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 36 km/h
• Average speed recorded in April 2026: 45km/h
• Average speed recorded in May 2026: 44 km/h

Ogilvie Road

• October 2025: 86 per cent compliance
• December 2025: 55 per cent compliance
• March 2026: 58 per cent compliance
• April 2026: 64 per cent compliance
• May 2026: 48 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 45 km/h
• Average speed recorded in April 2026: 47 km/h
• Average speed recorded in May 2026: 50 km/h

Smyth Road

• October 2025: 94 per cent compliance
• December 2025: 52 per cent compliance
• March 2026: 44 per cent compliance
• April 2026: 45 per cent compliance
• May 2026: 48 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 41 km/h
• Average speed recorded in April 2026: 51 km/h
• Average speed recorded in May 2026: 51 km/h

Meadowlands Drive

• October 2025: 90 per cent compliance
• December 2025: 51 per cent compliance
• March 2026: 26 per cent compliance
• April 2026: 35 per cent compliance
• May 2026: 40 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 35 km/h
• Average speed recorded in April 2026: 43 km/h
• Average speed recorded in May 2026: 42 km/h