Toronto's Parkside Drive has seen a massive surge in speeding following the provincial ban on automated enforcement. New data from the City of Toronto indicates that vehicles traveling significantly over the limit have increased by 560% compared to the previous year.
The 560% surge in July 2026 speeding violations
The recent spike in speeding on Parkside Drive is part of a broader trend following the province-wide prohibition of automated speed enforcement in November 2025. According to City of Toronto open data, 3,675 vehicles were recorded traveling 60 km/h or faster on the 40 km/h street in July 2026. This represents a massive increase from the 556 vehicles recorded during the same month in 2025.
This July data point marks the largest single-month jump recorded since the provincial ban took effect. The report says the trend had already been climbing throughout the year, with a surge of more than 200% noted between January and April 2026. These figures were gathered via a "Watch Your Speed" sign installed near the location of a former automated enforcement camera.
Doug Ford's push for Forest Hill-style physical barriers
Premier Doug Ford has advocated for physical traffic-calming measures as a superior alternative to digital enforcement. during a recent news conference,Ford dismissed automated speed cameras as "cash grabs" and argued that roundabouts and speed bumps provide a guaranteed way to slow drivers. He suggested that the province should focus on structural changes rather than punitive electronic monitoring.
The Premier pointed to established neighborhoods like Forest Hill and Rosedale as successful models for this approach. He claimed that the prevalence of speed bumps and raised crosswalks in those areas has effectively eliminated speeding.. Ford's position suggests that the province intends to move away from automated systems in favor of permanent road architecture to manage driver behavior.
Olivia Chow's concerns regarding Mount Pleasant emergency access
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has challenged the feasibility of applying Ford's physical-barrier model to all major city streets. Speaking at the same news conference, Chow argued that physical measures like speed bumps are not practical on every arterial road. She specifically cited Mount Pleasant as an example of a street where such installations could be problematic.
Chow noted that installing roundabouts or speed bumps on major corridors could impede the rapid response of fire trucks and ambulances. As reported by CP24, the Mayor emphasized that the priority must remain on protecting children and vulnerable road users from high-speed collisions. This highlights a growing tension between the provincial preference for physical barriers and the municipal need for efficient emergency transit.
Will the City commit to Safe Parkside's redesign demands?
Community advocates are arguing that neither cameras nor speed bumps are sufficient to address the escalating danger on Parkside Drive. Faraz Gholizadeh, co-chair of the community group Safe Parkside, told CP24 that the current situation is vastly more dangerous for residents. Gholizadeh has called for a complete redesign of the street to make speeding physically difficult for drivers.
While the group uses the "Watch Your Speed" sign data to validate resident concerns, several critical questions remain unanswered. It is currently unclear if the City of Toronto or the provincial government will commit the necessary funding for a full street redesign. Furthermore, the source does not clarify if the 560% spike is a permanent new baseline or a seasonal anomaly, leaving the long-term safety of the corridor in doubt.
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