Speed camera set up on street plagued by fast drivers in Mississauga

A long-awaited speed camera went active this week on a busy residential street in north Mississauga that’s been plagued for years by lead-footed and aggressive drivers.

The Automated Speed Enforcement camera began snapping photos of speeding motorists on Trelawny Circle in west Meadowvale this past Monday, said City of Mississauga Ward 10 Coun. Sue McFadden.

McFadden and area residents have long been pushing for additional enforcement/measures on the busy street, be it via added Peel Regional Police presence, a reduced speed limit or the installation of a speed camera under the city’s ASE camera program.

The ASE camera initiative, through which speeding drivers receive tickets in the mail after having their licence plates photographed, has been successful in reducing speeds on Mississauga roads since its inception in 2021.

This past summer, in response to numerous and ongoing complaints from residents that cars consistently speed on the neighbourhood street, the posted speed limit on Trelawny Circle was reduced to 40 km/h 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The speed camera, noted McFadden, now adds an extra level of enforcement to keep people on the road safe, especially kids of all ages who attend two schools on the street — Trelawny Public School and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School.

In her most-recent newsletter to residents, McFadden noted that the ASE camera is located just to the west of the secondary school to enforce the 40 km/h limit.

“Having worked closely with staff and the community throughout the year on addressing issues related to speeding on Trelawny Circle, I am pleased to share that the Automated Speed Enforcement camera has been installed,” the councillor added.

“There are two zones earmarked for cameras along Trelawny Circle in the short term: the first is where the camera is currently positioned. It will remain there for at least 30 days and likely longer. The second is a yet-to-be-determined location in front of Trelawny Public School.”

Map shows Trelawny Circle in west Meadowvale, where efforts are being made to slow down speeding drivers.

Trelawny Circle, which runs off Tenth Line West just south of Derry Road, was identified earlier this year as one of the city’s Community Safety Zones under a pilot project that took effect in September.

CSZ’s are areas, mostly school zones, that have been identified by city officials as being in need of additional speed-reducing measures.

The pilot project, results of which may be applied city-wide, allowed for use of the speed camera on Trelawny Circle.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Trelawny Public School are located just steps apart on the “curved” section of the road near its western-most stretch. In that particular area, speeding motorists may not have enough time to react upon seeing students or other pedestrians on the road in front of them, residents have feared.

McFadden said earlier that the situation on Trelawny Circle had become a “risk to public safety caused by driver behaviour” on the road.

“While this issue is happening in other places in Ward 10, and indeed across the city, (there are) unique challenges inherent with Trelawny Circle, a four-lane, curved roadway with two schools in a residential neighbourhood.”

McFadden also noted that the motivation for the ASE camera program is not to fill city coffers with cash.

“We’ve often heard this program referred to as a ‘money grab.’ The point of the program is to slow drivers down – that’s why these zones are well-signed – and the most effective way to gain compliance is through financial penalty,” she said.

“It would not be a successful program if it did not result in a broad, consistent reduction in travel speeds. Thankfully, we are seeing a positive response toward compliance in general across the city. Furthermore, any funds generated through the program are targeted specifically towards the city’s traffic calming budget.”