Belleville Council has elected not to go ahead with a motion that would have featured a closer relationship with provincial entities in dealing with Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras in the city.
The motion was put forward toward the end of last night’s meeting by Councillor Kathryn Brown and called for the Province of Ontario, through the Ministry of Transportation, to undertake consultation with municipalities that operate ASE programs to develop improvements.
This would also include the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, who would help promote ‘greater consistency and alignment’ across the ASE program.
Brown had put the motion forward to city staff before Premier Doug Ford indicated that his government will be tabling a motion that would ban the use of Automated Speed Enforcement cameras.
“They’re making this decision, despite the fact that studies from Sick Kids Hospital (Toronto), CAA, and the University of Toronto, all substantiated that Automated Speed Enforcement reduces speeding and reduces serious injury and fatalities,” Brown said, adding the Ontario Police Chiefs Association also supports this initiative for improvement of traffic safety and changing driver behaviour.
“All we’re asking is for the opportunity to confer and provide actual insights about our program, and programs of other municipalities, for those of us and from those of us who have the most in depth knowledge about our roadways and our community.”
Brown and a couple of other councillors noted the use of money for priority areas such in the city as a key reason for going through with the motion.
However, Councillor Paul Carr said that the motion doesn’t make a clear distinction of reinvesting into traffic safety initiatives.
The motion was ultimately lost on a tie vote, 4-4.
The full motion can be seen below:
Whereas ensuring the safety of all road users, including drivers, cyclists and pedestrians is a common priority for all municipalities and the provincial government.
Whereas reducing vehicle speeds helps create calmer, safer neighbourhoods that encourage people to use active forms of transportation and to be active in their communities.
Whereas municipalities across Ontario are increasingly adopting provincially regulated Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) programs as a proven tool to improve road safety, particularly in school zones and community safety zones (CSZ).
Whereas in Belleville Automated Speed Enforcement cameras have reduced the number of speeding vehicles by an average of 15-30% across 11 Community Safety Zones, using 4 ASE cameras that are circulated every 3-4 months throughout those CSZ’s. The reduction is measured based on data collected before, during and subsequent to an ASE camera placement.
Whereas Ontario’s police leaders view ASE not as a revenue tool, but as a traffic safety tool with the purpose of deterrence and prevention – helping to change driver behaviour and reduce collisions.
Whereas by complementing traditional police enforcement, ASE frees up police resources to focus on other pressing public safety priorities.
Whereas nearly three quarters of Ontario drivers support the use of ASE in targeted areas like school zones or community safety zones.
Whereas municipalities are best placed to develop transportation plans based on their local knowledge and community input.
Whereas the varying approaches across municipalities presents an opportunity to promote consistency and alignment with emerging best practices province-wide.
Therefore, Be it Resolved That the Province of Ontario, through the Ministry of Transportation, work collaboratively with municipalities that operate ASE programs and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to develop improvements that contribute to promoting greater consistency and alignment across the ASE program.
And Further That a copy of this motion be sent to the Premier of Ontario (premier@ontario.ca); the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (minister.mah@ontario.ca); the Minister of Transportation (minister.mto@ontario.ca) ; the Member of Parliament, Bay of Quinte (tyler.allsopp@pc.ola.org); the Member of Parliament Hastings-Lennox & Addington (ric.bresee@pc.ola.org) and to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Policy Centre (policy@amo.on.ca).
(BROCK ORMOND)
