No more photo radar in playground zones, city to focus on other safety measures
Edmonton officials say the decision aligns with their 'ongoing commitment to Vision Zero,' which is outlined on their website as an effort to have zero traffic-related injuries and deaths by 2032.
'Playground zones are some of the most sensitive spaces in our transportation system, and they have always been - and will continue to be - a priority for the city,' Jessica Lamarre, Edmonton's director of Safe Mobility, said in a news release on Wednesday.
She added that the city has invested more than $6-million in upgrades like new crossings and improved visibility measures since 2019. The injection of funds comes after assessing every elementary school in Edmonton for safety needs over the past ten years.
'These upgrades have helped make playground zones spaces that have some of the lowest rates of speeding and collisions in the city,' Lamarre said, adding that speeding is only one part of the safety challenge.
According to Lamarre, the broader concerns include traffic flow, crossing safety and watching out for bad drivers in school zones.
'While automated enforcement is incredibly effective at reducing speeds, it doesn't target this wider range of challenges,' she continued. 'Reinvesting these funds allows us to respond more directly to what people are experiencing every day and to make playground zones safer in a more lasting, visible way.'
New restrictions under the provincial government's Automated Traffic Enforcement Guideline - which limits where cities can use photo radar - was also a factor in the city's decision.
The city said photo radar in playground zones was made possible with money from photo radar on Edmonton roadways like Anthony Henday Drive, Whitemud Drive, and Yellowhead Trail.
Without this revenue, officials are adjusting their approach and 'redirecting resources into physical upgrades and creative solutions that respond to the broader safety concerns' from the school communities.
The removal of photo radar enforcement in playground zones starts July 1. The city says the announcement will give communities time to adapt and prepare before the next school year.
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