The need for speed hasn't been eliminated but there's been improvement.
A report by staff to Barrie City Council says the automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras have successfully reduced speed in the two initial community safety zone locations compared to the use of flashing 40 km/hour beacons during peak school hours this year.
- Essa Road NB (Feb. 29, 2024 to May 14, 2024)
- Ardaugh Road WB (Mar. 1, 2024 to May 14, 2024)
- Cundles Road EB (May 15, 2024 to July 12, 2024)
- Leacock Drive SB (May 15, 2024 to July 12, 2024)
During peak school hours, the report says speeds were reduced by:
- 16 km/hr at the Essa Road location
- 3 km/hr at the Ardaugh Road location
- 7 km/hr at the Cundles Road location
- 9 km/hr at the Leacock Drive location
The report explains that the 85th percentile is the speed at or below which 85 per cent of the drivers travel on a segment of road. Vehicle speeds were recorded for 24 hours using the speed tracker device and contractor counts.
"Staff identified the peak hours when students are arriving and or leaving the school site," according to the report.
The report laid out why there is a significant difference between the tickets issued and the number of violations recorded.
"Officers continue to focus on reviewing events recorded weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., as this is the prime period when vulnerable members of the community may be impacted by speeding and due to limited available resources to process violations," the report stated.
The number of tickets issued related to whether the image captured is of adequate quality to issue a ticket (such as if it is obscured by weather and/or illegible licence plates). Based on the rates of speed exceeding the maximum speed limit during the operation at these locations, the average ASE fine amount payable per ticket is approximately $90.00.
The report said this is the same cost as an average ticket issued by police for the same violations. The difference is, according to the report, an ASE violation does not include the loss of demerit points or a record on a driver's licence, as the ticket is issued to the owner of vehicle not the driver.
"Many owners of vehicles who have been issued ASE violations have chosen to pay their fines," the report states. "As with regular tickets, there's a difference between the legislated payment period, when a fine is to be paid, and when the next steps take place to move the infraction to what's called a "vehicle plate denial."
As of Aug. 17, 2024, 72.97 per cent of ASE charges issued have been paid, which represents 71.13 per cent of the gross fine amount issued.
ASE launched in Barrie in Dec. 2023.
According to the city, there are 27 community safety zones in total that have been identified in Barrie as problem areas where the cameras could be installed. This is based on data collected showing areas where drivers are regularly going over the posted limit.
A community safety zone is an area designated through the Community Safety Zones By-law passed by council to identify it as a road segment of higher risk or concern. Certain Highway Traffic Act fines (including speeding) are doubled in community safety zones and many community safety zones are located close to schools.
Currently, the cameras are westbound on Wellington Street West near Hillcrest Public School and eastbound on Grove Street East near Eastview Secondary School.
