In November, the City of Ottawa officially activated nine new photo radar cameras as part of an ongoing initiative to enhance safety on the city's roads. This expansion of the automated speed enforcement camera program notably targets community safety zones, school zones, and high-speed areas.

As of November, there were 49 active photo radar cameras throughout Ottawa, with plans to ramp up this number to 60 by the end of 2024. The ambitious 2025 budget proposal even suggests the addition of another 24 cameras and includes a pilot project aimed at introducing these devices to rural roads—a significant move to address speeding in less urbanized areas.

Unveiling the statistics from the first month of operation, the camera located on Walkley Road, a zone notorious for speeding, issued a staggering 1,136 tickets. Meanwhile, the camera on Castlefrank Road captured 702 speeders, and Main Street's camera recorded 587 violations. Here's a complete breakdown of ticket issuance by all nine newly introduced cameras:

Ticket Statistics by Camera

Walkley Road: 1,136 tickets Castlefrank Road: 702 tickets Main Street: 587 tickets Prince of Wales Drive: 365 tickets Cassidy Road: 147 tickets Knoxdale Road: 111 tickets Ottawa Street: 75 tickets Terry Fox Drive: 46 tickets Stoneway Drive: 19 tickets

As 2023 approaches its end, Ottawa's automated speed enforcement efforts have already illuminated a concerning trend—over 348,000 speeding tickets issued from January to November. November alone saw 25,035 violations, indicating a consistent challenge for local drivers. The King Edward Avenue camera stands out, catching an exceptional 56,126 speeders during the same period, with 3,234 tickets issued in November alone.

Take a look at the busiest photo radar cameras of 2023:

Busiest Photo Radar Cameras of 2023

1. King Edward Ave.: 56,126 tickets 2. Walkley Rd.: 32,791 tickets 3. St-Laurent Blvd.: 19,671 tickets 4. Cedarview Rd.: 15,165 tickets 5. Katimavik Rd.: 13,785 tickets 6. Riverside Dr.: 13,037 tickets 7. Woodroffe Ave.: 12,883 tickets 8. Bayshore Dr.: 12,834 tickets 9. Bronson Ave.: 12,409 tickets 10. Fisher Ave.: 12,268 tickets

Looking ahead, the city has identified eight potential new sites for photo radar cameras in 2025, with an aim to further combat speeding. These proposed locations include:

Proposed Locations for New Cameras

Carriere Street from Orleans Boulevard to Michaelsem Street Abbott Street East between Iber Road and Robert Grant Avenue Old Richmond Road from Sanibel Private to Seyton Drive Fisher Avenue from Meadowlands Drive to Urbisci Private Donald Street from Barnaby Private to Telford Avenue Fisher Avenue between Trent Street and McCooney Lane Fern Casey Street from Renaud Road to Locust Ridge Perth Street between Cockburn Street and King Street North (Village of Richmond)

The ongoing updates to Ottawa's automated speed enforcement measures underscore the city's commitment to road safety. As the number of cameras increases, so too does the urgency for drivers to adhere to speed limits, lest they contribute to the swelling ticket tally. Stay informed and be vigilant, as the road can come with unexpected consequences!