In a direct response to growing public concern over road safety, the Ottawa Police Service is deploying new, dedicated traffic patrol units across the city. This initiative comes just one month after the province of Ontario banned the use of automated speed enforcement cameras, a tool previously used to monitor and deter speeding drivers.
New Teams Target High-Risk Areas
The new strategy, announced by Police Chief Eric Stubbs, involves creating district traffic units within the force's recently adopted neighbourhood policing model. Starting this week, each policing district will be staffed with a sergeant and four constables specifically focused on traffic enforcement. The service plans to eventually build each team up to seven constables.
Superintendent Ken Bryden of the Neighbourhood Policing Directorate, who is overseeing the units, stated that these officers will work closely with frontline and neighbourhood teams. Their focus will be strategically directed toward areas with the most pressing traffic issues, as identified by community complaints and data.
"Those areas will remain priorities for us as police even though there are no cameras there," Supt. Bryden emphasized.
Community Feedback Drives Enforcement Priorities
Chief Stubbs highlighted that feedback from residents and city councillors played a crucial role in determining where these new resources are most needed. Data gathered through public engagement campaigns like #residentsmatter helped police identify distinct traffic problems in different parts of Ottawa.
According to the analysis, traffic offences are city-wide, but their nature varies by district. In the downtown core, issues like distracted driving and drivers running red lights are more prevalent. In contrast, suburban and rural areas see higher instances of stunt driving and street racing, particularly during summer nights.
Filling the Void Left by Speed Cameras
The launch of the traffic units is a clear attempt to address the enforcement gap created by the loss of speed cameras. River Ward Councillor Riley Brockington has been vocal about the escalating problem, calling speeding an "epidemic."
"Night-time racing is especially out of control in the summer months, and modified vehicles that disturb the peace need to be addressed," Brockington said. He welcomed any new police resources to tackle ongoing road safety issues.
While acknowledging that speed cameras were a useful tool, Chief Stubbs made it clear that the responsibility for traffic safety now rests entirely on available police resources. The new district traffic units represent a shift towards a more visible, proactive enforcement model aimed at building trust and reducing collisions through a combination of community engagement and targeted patrols.
