Province supporting proven traffic-calming measures in school zones and community safety zones while keeping costs down for drivers
The Ontario government is investing $210 million through the Road Safety Initiatives Fund (RSIF) to support increased road safety in school zones and community safety zones without using speed cameras that make life more expensive for drivers and taxpayers. The RSIF will instead provide financial support for proven road safety measures that do not raise costs for drivers, including traffic-calming infrastructure like speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and roundabouts as well as high visibility signage and increased police enforcement in school zones and community safety zones where municipal speed cameras were previously deployed.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is standing up for drivers by banning cash-grab speed cameras and supporting proven road safety measures that will make a real difference,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Ontario has some of the safest roads in North America and our new Road Safety Initiatives Fund will build on this record by ensuring municipalities have the resources they need to implement proven traffic-calming measures without making life more expensive for drivers.”
As part of the RSIF, the Ontario government will provide $42 million in immediate funding to support traffic-calming measures in school zones and community safety zones that previously deployed municipal speed cameras. Early next year, eligible municipalities will be invited to apply to the RSIF for the remainder of the funding and submit construction plans for traffic-calming infrastructure.
In response to public concerns over the increased use of municipal speed cameras as a revenue-raising tool, the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, which received Royal Assent on November 3, 2025, prohibits the use of municipal speed cameras as of November 14, 2025. These concerns were driven by a significant increase in the use of speed cameras by certain municipalities, with more than 700 cameras added since 2019. The use of these cameras resulted in Ontarians being charged with millions of dollars in fines, including a single camera in the City of Toronto that issued more than 65,000 tickets and took in nearly $7 million in fines prior to 2025.
Quick Facts
- All municipalities that previously used municipal speed cameras will be eligible to apply for the Road Safety Initiatives Fund. The $210 million in funding provided through the RSIF is one-time funding.
- For 25 years, Ontario has ranked among the top five jurisdictions in North America for road safety, with one of the lowest fatality rates per 10,000 licensed drivers.
- The Road Safety Community Partnership Program provides funding to not-for-profit organizations for public awareness initiatives, campaigns or events that address priority road safety issues. Municipalities can partner with applicant organizations, which are eligible to apply for funding.
- The Reduced Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) grant program provides funding to help police services across the province keep impaired drivers off streets and highways through year-round education campaigns and roadside spot checks.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
