A plan to bring mobile speed cameras to Windsor’s school zones is heading to city council for final approval on April 14, following endorsement by the city’s transportation committee earlier this year.
The initiative, known as the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program, proposes the use of five mobile speed cameras rotated citywide through designated school zones and community safety zones.
Only two cameras would be active at any given time, with warning signage posted 90 days before enforcement begins at each location.
Coun. Kieran McKenzie, a member of the Environment, Transportation & Public Safety Standing Committee, said the goal is to address concerns from residents about drivers going too fast, particularly near schools.
“We’re picking locations in and around school zones across the community to bring some automated speed enforcement tools to the forefront,” McKenzie said.
“My hope is that folks will start to be a little bit more cognizant of their speed, particularly when they’re in those areas and sort of make some different choices with respect to their driving habits.”
According to the city’s report, the ASE program would operate on an administrative penalty system instead of the provincial offences system, which has been bogged down in backlogs across Ontario.
This approach allows fines to be processed and appealed through a local system without involving the courts.
The city is proposing to lease five mobile camera units from Jenoptik, the same vendor used in Windsor’s red light camera program.
If approved, the program could issue up to 23,000 penalty notices per year based on traffic data from sample school zones.
Enforcement would only occur when school zones are in effect, with flexibility for cameras to be paused during holidays, poor weather, or when school is out.
Sites must meet technical requirements, such as adequate sightlines and space for installation, before a camera is deployed.
McKenzie said drivers should expect “some” flexibility when it comes to the speed thresholds for a ticket to be issued.
“To me, I don’t see any reason why somebody would need to be going 55, 60 kilometres an hour in a residential area,” he said.
“If those are the choices that folks are going to make — particularly when they’re around schools — then frankly, I think it would be appropriate for them to be ticketed.”
The program would mirror the city’s red light camera approach.
“Despite the fact that there’s signage at all of the intersections where we’ve implemented the red light cameras, that program has ... exceeded expectations,” he said.
“Nobody wants to be financially successful when you’re talking about traffic enforcement measures. What we’re looking to do is to enhance the safety.”
For Ahmed Aman, who lives along Cabana Road near a school, driver behaviour remains a concern.
“Nobody slows down actually here, that’s for sure,” Aman said.
“For me, just to get out from [my driveway]. I have to take extra precaution ... because I have to watch how much speed they’re coming in there.”
He believes speed cameras could help, so long as they’re clearly marked.
“My concern is safety. If it actually brings down the danger or increases the safety, then I don’t mind.”
If city council gives its final approval on April 14, a budget adjustment would be made to support its implementation in 2025.
A follow-up report on its effectiveness will be presented after two years of operation.
