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- calendar_today November 13, 2026
Overview: Reported Accidents Rise After Ontario's Speed Camera Ban
A recent study conducted by insurance comparison company MyChoice has highlighted an increase in self-reported accidents among drivers in three Toronto neighbourhoods following Ontario’s cessation of municipal speed camera enforcement. The findings point to significant changes in driver behavior as measured by insurance quote records, though direct causation with speed camera removal is not established.
Neighbourhoods Most Affected by Reported Accident Increases
The study focused on three areas: Islington in Etobicoke, Malvern and Rouge, and Willowdale and Newtonbrook. The Islington neighbourhood experienced the largest jump, with the proportion of drivers who reported a past accident rising from 7.81 per cent to 18.03 per cent. Willowdale and Newtonbrook saw their rate increase from 3.41 per cent to 12.99 per cent. Meanwhile, Malvern and Rouge, which previously housed five speed camera sites before their removal, saw reported accidents climb from 9.57 per cent to 12 per cent.
Speeding Ticket Rates: Mixed Outcomes
Interestingly, Malvern and Rouge was the only neighbourhood among the three where both reported accidents and reported speeding ticket rates increased. The area’s ticket rate rose from 5.22 per cent to eight per cent. In contrast, both Islington and Willowdale/Newtonbrook saw decreases in reported speeding ticket rates, despite increased accident reports. Islington’s rate fell from 7.81 per cent to 6.56 per cent, while Willowdale/Newtonbrook dropped from 4.55 per cent to 1.30 per cent.
Scope and Methodology: How the Study Was Conducted
MyChoice’s research analyzed 68,720 insurance quote records submitted through its online platform. The company compared data from December 2024 to September 2025 with the period from December 2025 to September 2026, providing a before-and-after snapshot surrounding Ontario’s November 14, 2025, ban on municipal speed cameras. The study uses drivers’ self-reported accident and ticket histories, as opposed to official police or traffic records.
Citywide Trends Since Speed Camera Removal
Across Toronto, the overall rate of drivers who reported past accidents rose slightly, from 9.10 per cent to 9.91 per cent, according to the study. Before the enforcement shutdown, the city operated 150 municipal speed cameras, many of which were located in the three neighborhoods examined.
Study Limitations and Interpretations
It is important to note that the findings are based on insurance application data and driver self-reporting, not on officially documented collisions. As such, while the data captures changes in driver-reported accident and ticket rates, the study does not demonstrate a direct causal relationship between speed camera removal and the observed increases in reported accidents. The results provide insight into possible changes in behaviour or reporting, but further research using broader data sources would be required for conclusive findings.
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Source: nowtoronto.com.
