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“When drivers choose to slow down or change their routes because of photo radar, it means the technology is doing what it’s meant to, reminding us to be more mindful behind the wheel,” CAA community relations consultant Michael Stewart said.

According to the survey, 73 per cent of drivers in the province reported they slow down when they’re approaching a speed camera and more than half said they’re unlikely to speed up after passing through the area. The data shows a positive shift in safe driving habits when compared to statistics in 2023, when 44 per cent of drivers said they were unlikely to speed up after passing a camera, CAA said. 

“This technology isn’t about ‘gotcha’ moments; it’s about preventing real harm and changing driver behaviour,” Stewart said. “While speed cameras may not solve every road safety issue overnight, they play an important role in nudging driver behaviour in a safer direction.”

At the same time, more drivers have received a speeding ticket from a camera this year, with 23 per cent being issued a fine compared to 17 per cent in 2024, data from CAA shows. Forty per cent of drivers said they have driven over the speed limit in the past year, according to CAA.

The survey also found that almost half of drivers in Ontario avoid driving on roads that have a speed camera on them.

Despite the increased ticketing, 73 per cent of drivers said they support the use of speed cameras in specific areas, such as school zones or close to community centres. More than three-quarters said they think the cameras help deter drivers from speeding altogether.

At the same time, there should be thoughtful consideration before expanding speed cameras in places that aren’t considered community safety zones, CAA recommended. 

“These cameras should never be used as a revenue generator, but rather, as a method to help protect road users and encourage safer driving habits,” Stewart said.

The online survey was performed by DIG Insights in March and questioned 1,500 drivers who are 18-years-old or older. The margin of error is two per cent.

Despite the apparent support for speed cameras, some across the Greater É«É«À² Area have been vandalized.

Notably, the speed camera on Parkside Drive has been cut down six times in the past several months. The camera is É«É«À²’s most prolific speeding catcher, issuing more than 66,000 tickets, totalling $7 million in fines.

In May, a man was charged after nine speed cameras were damaged in Vaughan. The man was charged in one of the incidents, while police continued to investigate the remaining eight.

With files from Raju Mudhar and Abby O’Brien