Shelburne, ON — The Town of Shelburne is reaffirming its commitment to road safety
in response to recent comments by Premier Doug Ford suggesting that automated
speed enforcement (ASE) is a “cash grab” and that Ontario municipalities should end
their use.
Automated Speed Enforcement is a key and proven approach to make our community
safer, save lives and prevents injuries. Studies across Ontario and Canada have shown
that ASE reduces speeding, changes driver behaviour, and makes roads safer for
everyone, especially children, seniors, pedestrians, and cyclists. While revenue is
generated from tickets it is not a cash grab. Council has repeatedly stated that ultimate
goal is no revenue and speeding ends. The Town’s ASE program, which went live on
September 5, 2025, was implemented based on the evidence that we have a significant
speeding issue in our community even with a 40 km speed limit on all our roads.
“Automated speed enforcement is a proven, evidence-based public safety tool,” says
Mayor Mills. “When drivers know that a camera is in place, they slow down. When
speeds are reduced, collisions and serious injuries decline. That’s not a cash grab;
that’s a community safety success.”
Key facts about Automated Speed Enforcement:
• Revenue Neutrality: Municipalities do not profit from ASE. The revenue
collected is used to cover program costs, including camera operation,
processing, administration and reinvested back into road safety and traffic
calming measures.
• Safety First: ASE is deployed in school zones and community safety zones
areas specifically chosen to protect the most vulnerable road users.
• Behaviour Change: Jurisdictions using ASE have documented significant
reductions in speeding and collisions. The goal is long-term driver behaviour
change, not ticket revenue.
• Lives Saved: Slowing down by even 10 km/h dramatically reduces the risk of
fatality in a collision.
“Calling automated speed enforcement a cash grab undermines the real issue, unsafe
driving behaviours puts lives at risk,” added Mayor Mills. “Every resident should feel
safe using our pedestrian friendly community. ASE helps make that possible.”
The Town of Shelburne remains committed to prioritizing road safety over revenue and
will continue to use tools like automated speed enforcement to protect residents and
visitors alike.
