Less than 30% of drivers following speed limit at some former Ottawa photo radar camera spots

A photo radar camera was operating outside Vincent Massey School on Smyth Road in Ottawa until November 2025. New statistics from the City of Ottawa show only 58 per cent of drivers complied with the speed limit at the location in October. (Dave Charbonneau / CTV News Ottawa)

Drivers are travelling an average of 5 km/h to 11 km/h faster at former photo radar camera locations in Ottawa’s school zones this fall compared to a year ago, according to new statistics.

The City of Ottawa continues to collect data on speed and speed limit compliance at the eight original automated speed enforcement camera locations following the Ontario government’s move to ban the cameras last November.

Data released by the city shows the average speed of drivers was 11 km/h faster at the former photo radar camera on Bayshore Drive in October compared to October 2025, while drivers were travelling an average of 10 km/h faster at the former camera locations on Longfields Drive and Innes Road.

Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs told the Ottawa Police Services Board last week that the removal of Ottawa’s 60 photo radar cameras has forced police to fill the void.

“You saw it. Everyone slows down going through a camera zone. So, now that we are a bit of the default,” Stubbs said.

“If they see a police car, they’re going to naturally slow down. So, we know that presence and our enforcement will have a positive impact. But we know that it’ll be a very long time before we can cover this city appropriately.”

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The data shows only 22 per cent of drivers followed the posted speed limit on Longfields Drive at the former photo radar camera location, compared to 33 per cent compliance in September and 91 per cent compliance in October 2025.

Only 22 per cent of drivers complied with the speed limit on Bayshore Drive in October, while 29 per cent of drivers followed the posted speed limit on Meadowlands Drive at the former photo radar location.

The former photo radar camera on Smyth Road had the highest compliance in October, with 58 per cent of drivers following the posted speed limit. The average speed on Smyth Road was 49 km/h last month, up from 41 km/h in October 2025.

Forty-five per cent of drivers followed the posted speed limit on Watters Drive in October, while 44 per cent of drivers travelled the speed limit on Ogilvie Road.

A total of 1,143,240 speeding tickets were issued through Ottawa’s automated speed enforcement camera program between July 2020 and November 2025, including 279,595 tickets in 2025 and 383,830 tickets in 2024.

The City of Ottawa will be installing traffic calming measures and signage at all former photo radar locations, and speed humps and cushions at several locations.

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Compliance with the speed limit

A look at the percentage of drivers complying with the posted speed limit at the eight original photo radar locations and the average speed of drivers at the camera locations. Data courtesy City of Ottawa Open Data.

Longfields Drive

• October 2026:  22 per cent compliance
• September 2026: 33 per cent compliance
• October 2025: 91 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2026: 45 km/h
• Average speed recorded in September 2026: 43 km/h
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 35 km/h

Innes Road

• October 2026:  31 per cent compliance
• September 2026: 35 per cent compliance
• October 2025: 88 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2026: 64 km/h
• Average speed recorded in September 2026: 63 km/h
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 54 km/h km/h

Bayshore Drive

• October 2026:  22 per cent compliance
• September 2026: 38 per cent compliance
• October 2025: 88 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2026: 45 km/h
• Average speed recorded in September 2026 43 km/h
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 34 km/h

Katimavik Road

• October 2026:  30 per cent compliance
• September: 2026: 46 per cent compliance
• October 2025: 86 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2026: 44 km/h
• Average speed recorded in September 2026: 41 km/h
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 35 km/h

Watters Road

• October 2026:  45 per cent compliance
• September 2026: 33 per cent compliance
• October 2025: 88 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2026:  41 km/h
• Average speed recorded in September 2026: 43 km/h
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 36 km/h

Ogilvie Road

• October 2026:  44 per cent compliance
• September 2026: 50 per cent compliance
• October 2025: 86 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2026: 51 km/h
• Average speed recorded in September 2026: 50 km/h
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 45 km/h

Smyth Road

• October 2026:  58 per cent compliance
• September: 2026: 57 per cent compliance
• October 2025: 83 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2026: 49 km/h
• Average speed recorded in September 2026: 49 km/h
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 41 km/h

Meadowlands Drive

• October 2026: 29 per cent compliance
• September 2026: 31 per cent compliance
• October 2025: 90 per cent compliance
• Average speed recorded in October 2026: 44 km/h
• Average speed recorded in September 2026: 44 km/h
• Average speed recorded in October 2025: 35 km/h