ASE in Ontario

In 2017, Bill 65 – the Safer School Zones Act amended the Highway Traffic Act (the Act) to introduce the use of ASE in school zones and community safety zones across the province. With the most recent Ontario Road Safety Annual Report from the Ministry of Transportation (Preliminary 2023) showing that speed is the number one contributor to road deaths, ASE truly is a reminder that we ALL need to slow down to keep our communities – and our children – safe.

ASE is a proven tool to enforce speed limits, increase driver awareness and decrease pedestrian injury and death. It addresses a specific need to reduce speed in both school zones and community safety zones.

With speed a contributing factor in approximately one-fifth of fatal collisions, Ontario is committed to building on the success of ASE programs to ensure this road safety measure will help to initiate a positive change in driver behaviour and improve the quality of life in our neighbourhoods.

This includes reviewing the successes and lessons learned by the many other jurisdictions in Canada and around the world that have successfully used ASE, such as Quebec, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and more.

A recent study led by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has found that automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras significantly reduce speeding in Toronto's school zones. Published in the journal Injury Prevention on July 25, 2025, the study analyzed data from 250 school zones between July 2020 and December 2022. According to the study ASE contributes to a 45% reduction in speeding vehicles, a 10.7 km/h drop in 85th percentile speed (a key traffic safety metric indicating the speed at which 85% of vehicles are traveling), an 88% drop in speed for those vehicles traveling more than 20 km/.h over the speed limit and an 84% drop in vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 15 km/h or more.

Key findings from a 2025 CAA Ontario survey show that 73% of Ontario drivers slow down when approaching a speed camera, and 52% say they are unlikely to speed up after passing through an ASE zone. It goes on to show widespread public support with 73% of drivers supporting the use of cameras in targeted areas like school and community safety zones. Additionally, 76% believe the cameras deter speeding.

Data from Wellington County indicated that average speeds dropped 17% and compliance with the speed limit improved by 66%.

Brampton shows that ASE led to a reduction of up to 18 km/h in vehicle speeds. Essa Township shows a 29% average reduction in speed and a 38% increase in compliance with the posted speed limit.

Region of Waterloo data shows reduced speeds by an average of 15 km/hr

Studies from Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg also confirm declines in speeds, serious crashes, and injuries.