Latest news with #schoolzones
National Post
05-07-2025
- National Post
Michael Taube: Why Doug Ford's gaze has turned to speed cameras
Article content What about the argument that keeping speed cameras hidden in Ontario's municipalities would help ensure that drivers slow down? Article content Besides the fact that playing a game of 'gotcha' with drivers is juvenile, it doesn't make much of a difference. While popular navigation systems like GPS and Waze can identify hidden speed cameras and speed traps on certain routes, there are plenty of drivers who routinely ignore these warnings. There will always be drivers who ignore (or have ignored) municipal speed camera signs sitting in plain sight, too. The one silver lining? If any of these individuals get caught driving over the speed limit or worse, they'll be punished to the furthest extent of the law. Article content Ford is right to suggest there should be certain exceptions to the use of speed cameras in the province. This includes school zones where caution should always be the better part of valour. That's why speed limits are generally reduced to 30 km/h on Toronto streets located in and around our schools. Article content Here's the thing. If you slightly adjust your foot on the pedal or shift around in your car seat, which most drivers do at some point during their journeys, the chances are your speed will briefly go up a few kilometres. This would be caught on a speed camera and, in effect, mean that you've broken a municipal law. An inanimate speed camera obviously can't tell the difference. Are police and city officials going to care or take this into consideration? Of course not. Hence, it's a bit much to expect everyone to drive their vehicles to the point of a basic crawl or get fined. There has to be a certain amount of rational thinking and leniency involved in the decision-making process. Article content
CBC
27-06-2025
- CBC
School zones won't be 24/7, 'disreputable' websites are sharing misinformation: B.C. RCMP
Rules around school zones aren't changing on July 1, contrary to what some "disreputable websites" are claiming, says the B.C. RCMP's Highway Patrol. The posted speed limit in school zones is 30 km/h and is in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days, unless the sign indicates otherwise, according to provincial law. Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said police have been receiving questions about "persistent rumours" that school zone speed limits across Canada will be in effect 24/7 starting on Canada Day. "These rumours are false. They are not true, but they are a bit sticky — especially on social media," he said. McLaughlin noted there are a few clues that indicate the rumours were never legitimate. One "red flag," he said, is that the rumour said federal laws were changing when traffic laws are mandated primarily by provinces. "And all of these complicated changes happening at once rather quickly – another red flag." McLaughlin said some police research showed a website in India appeared to be one of the early sources of the rumour, but it wasn't clear if it was repeating false information that was already online. He said social media and online artificial intelligence, including those found through search engines, are amplifying the misinformation. Harder to find facts, says misinformation expert Heidi Tworek, a professor and director for the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions at the University of B.C., said it's unfortunate but not surprising that AI could be misleading the public. As AI becomes increasingly common, it's harder to determine whether information is trustworthy or not, she said. And it's particularly concerning from a Canadian perspective, as the incident shows certain AI has not been programmed to prioritize more trustworthy sources such as government websites. "That really opens the door to more misinformation," said Tworek. She noted search engines like Google are frequently putting AI-generated answers at the top of search results. But Tworek added it's easy for bad actors to create a website — or 20 — with low-quality information, which is then harvested by AI. "If you put garbage in, you will get garbage out," she said. AI-generated search results summarize what exists online, but don't necessarily prioritize high-quality information, according to Tworek. She suggested scrolling past them to find direct, primary sources of information. Tworek also recommended asking a chatbot for its sources, particularly for important information like traffic laws. McLaughlin agreed. "Be thoughtful about what you're repeating, and if it doesn't seem like it's real and there are problems with the information, then don't repeat them," he said.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- CTV News
5 speed cameras vandalized in 24 hours as councillor pushes for pause to program
Toronto City Councillor Anthony Perruzza says speed cameras are not changing the behaviour of drivers and wants to see more visible markings in school zones.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- CTV News
Toronto councillor pushes to halt what he calls ‘speed trap' cameras ahead of council meeting
Toronto City Councillor Anthony Perruzza says speed cameras are not changing the behaviour of drivers and wants to see more visible markings in school zones.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- CTV News
Mounties warn of ‘misinformation' about fake traffic law changes
A school zone speed sign is pictured in Saskatoon on June 7, 2022. (Chad Hills/CTV Saskatoon) Police in British Columbia are taking the unusual step of addressing online misinformation from 'disreputable websites' that falsely claim sweeping changes are coming to traffic laws across Canada. One such claim falsely states that school-zone speed limits will be in effect 24 hours a day across the country starting July 1. 'These websites are completely wrong, and social media and AI are amplifying the misinformation,' Cpl. Michael McLaughlin of the B.C. Highway Patrol said in a statement Thursday. 'School zones are a provincial jurisdiction,' he added. 'There are no sweeping changes coming for Canada.' All school zone regulations in B.C. are in effect between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. unless otherwise stated on traffic signs. Some websites publishing false claims about 24-hour school zones are also promoting misinformation about the lowering of legal blood-alcohol limits for drivers and dramatic increases in fines for distracted drivers. The B.C. Highway Patrol urges anyone viewing traffic-related content online to consider the source of the information. 'Traffic law announcements should come from your provincial government. A website you've never heard of, or Ned from Facebook, are not reliable sources,' the statement said. 'When Canada-wide traffic changes are being implemented on short notice, and for no apparent reason, that is a red flag for savvy internet users.'
