Myth: The ASE camera in my community wasn’t even near a school where it should be.

ASE may be used within a School Zone or within a Community Safety Zone. A Community Safety Zone may or may not have a school close by.

A municipal council has the authority under the Highway Traffic Act to designate through by-law a part of road under its jurisdiction as a community safety zone, if, in the council’s opinion, public safety is of special concern on that part of the roadway.

A Community Safety Zone is designated to protect road users on a portion of roadway in proximity to areas where there are kids and seniors or individuals walking, cycling or rolling such as schools, day care centers, libraries, parks, community centers, senior homes, etc. and using speed studies, and data pertaining to near misses and collisions.

Myth: ASE is ineffective or unnecessary. Municipalities should remove all the cameras.

The data is in and it overwhelmingly supports the effectiveness and impact of ASE. ASE data is demonstrating meaningful change, with a reduction in vehicle speeds across ASE sites. Slower speeds translate to fewer accidents, safer streets and saved lives.

A landmark study, conducted by the City of Toronto in partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University and Sick Kids Hospital, shows a 45 per cent reduction in the risk of vehicles exceeding speed limits where ASE is present and a decrease of 7.44 km/h in the 85th percentile vehicle speed (the speed at or below which 85 per cent of all vehicles are observed travelling under free-flowing conditions) after implementing ASE.[ii]

Proven results across North America also show that ASE leads to significant reductions in speeding and collisions. Studies from Quebec, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg consistently demonstrate declines in vehicle speeds, fewer injuries and fewer serious crashes.

Further, a 2016 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that the proportion of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour decreased within just six to eight months of implementing ASE by:

• 70 per cent in Arizona

• 88 per cent in Maryland

• 82 per cent in Washington, D.C.

Changing driver behaviour is at the heart of the ASE program, because every reduced speeding incident is a potential life saved. Slowing down, even a few kilometres per hour, can mean the difference between a close call and a fatal collision. The Ontario Traffic Council remains committed to implementing this life-saving tool to build safer streets for everyone.

Myth: ASE cameras are only installed in school zones and operational during school hours, so you will not get a ticket if you are speeding in the evening or on weekends.

Speeding is not limited to school hours, which is why continuous enforcement is essential. It provides a consistent deterrent, reinforces safe driving habits and helps protect vulnerable residents at all times of day. Safety should never be limited to a specific time of day.

These cameras are installed in designated Community Safety Zones, areas with high pedestrian activity where speeding poses a greater risk to vulnerable road users, including children and seniors. While this includes areas around schools, it also extends to roadways near daycare centres, playgrounds, parks, hospitals and senior residences.

To promote transparency and fairness, and as required by the Ministry of Transportation, signs are posted at all entry points to Community Safety Zones, and notice of upcoming camera activation is provided at least 90 days in advance. This gives drivers plenty of time to become aware of the zone and adjust their speed, supporting the program’s main goal: to reduce speeding and save lives. If a driver is in doubt about whether they are in a Community Safety Zone, always obey the posted speed limit.

ASE camera locations are posted on muncipal websites allowing residents to stay informed about where cameras are situated, further reinforcing the commitment to transparency.

Myth: Automated speed cameras unfairly impact everyday drivers, especially during times of financial stress. It is just a way for municipalities to make money.

The purpose of municipal ASE programs is safety, not revenue generation. The program is designed to protect lives by encouraging drivers to slow down and follow the posted speed limit. Municipalities reinvest ASE revenues into ASE operating costs, ensuring the program is self-sustaining. The OTC Guidelines state that net ASE revenues be reinvested into road safety programs.

The goal of ASE programs is not to penalize drivers, but to encourage positive changes to driving habits, eliminate dangerous speeding and reduce the likelihood of serious or fatal collisions. Speed limit enforcement is key to behaviour change and individuals who drive at or near the speed limit will not receive a ticket.

Community safety is a shared responsibility. The ASE program is a long-term investment in safer roads, and every driver who slows down helps protect their neighbours, their community and themselves.

Myth: Driving above the speed limit is not a big deal. It is unfair to get a ticket for going just one km/h over the posted limit.

Even small increases in speeding above the posted limit can have serious consequences and ASE is a proven life-saving tool to protect all road users.

According to research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the risk of injury or death rises significantly with each kilometre over the limit, especially in areas where children, seniors and other vulnerable road users are present. The faster a vehicle is moving on the road, the more likely it is to be involved in a crash. Every one km/h increase in speed results in a three per cent increase in crashes resulting in an injury and up to five per cent increase in fatal crashes[iii].

Ontario ASE programs only issues tickets when drivers exceed the posted speed limit, which is carefully set to reflect the road environment and protect everyone’s safety. To preserve the fairness and effectiveness of the program in reducing speeding, municipalities do not publicly disclose the specific speed threshold.

The most effective way to prevent receiving an ASE ticket is by simply obeying the posted speed limit at all times.

Myth: ASE Cameras do not actually make roads safer. Speed bumps are more effective at slowing traffic down.

The OTC ASE Guidelines state that municipalities should evaluate engineering and enforcement options available to determine the best evidence-based and effective solution to slowing drivers. These include a suite of traffic calming measures, including speed bumps/ While speed bumps can help reduce speeds on certain local roads, they are not always suitable for every road. In contrast, ASE provides consistent, measurable results without physically altering the road. Data shows a reduction in vehicle speeds across ASE sites. This is an effective tool for improving road safety city-wide.

Myth: I got an ASE ticket. Now I will get demerit points and my auto insurance rates will increase.

ASE tickets are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, not the driver. They do not result in demerit points or impact your auto insurance.

However, ASE tickets are enforceable under the Highway Traffic Act and must be addressed. Ignoring them can lead to late fees and prevent you from renewing your vehicle registration until the fine is resolved.

The best way to avoid a ticket is to follow the posted speed limits. If you do receive one, it is a chance to reflect, adjust your driving habits and contribute to making Ontario’s roads safer for everyone.

Myth: ASE cameras violate privacy by capturing video footage or storing unnecessary personal data.

ASE camera systems only capture still images of the vehicle and licence plate when a speeding violation occurs. They do not record video, nor do they capture images of drivers or passengers. All data is encrypted and securely stored, accessed only by trained and certified City staff, adhering to comprehensive privacy protections and safeguards.

Community safety reminder: ASE ticket fraud prevention

The OTC is reminding drivers and vehicle owners to remain vigilant about potential text message scams involving ASE tickets.

ASE tickets are never sent by text message. Fines are only issued by mail to the address to which the vehicle licence plate is registered. To pay a fine visit the municipality’s website.

Individuals who receive text messages about ASE tickets should not click on any links and are encouraged to report it to local police.