Brampton city councillor Rowena Santos highlights a sharp rise in speeding following the provincial ban on automated speed cameras, prompting consideration of innovative LED lights embedded in roads to enhance safety. Community safety zones now face heightened risks after the removal of these cameras late last year.
Innovative Solution from Proven Installations
Santos proposes LED lights installed directly into asphalt, a method that has yielded positive results in cities like Candiac, a Montreal suburb. Toronto-based DNG Group recently demonstrated the technology to Brampton officials.
Quick Installation and Proven Durability
DNG Group’s technical lead, Nick Tharrenos, explains that the lights require only about three days to install, minimizing traffic disruptions if done over a weekend. The company has successfully deployed similar systems on crosswalks in Scandinavian countries, where they withstand harsh winters and snow plows.
Speed Detection and Driver Alerts
Equipped with sensors, the lights detect vehicle speeds within the installation grid. Tharrenos notes that comparable setups have reduced driver speeds by 60-70%. In a Brampton school zone, green lights would signal appropriate speeds, while flashing amber lights warn if vehicles exceed programmed limits. “If the car speed exceeds a certain limit that’s programmed, they would flash amber to let them know that some action needs to be taken,” Tharrenos states.
Cost Estimates and Funding Expectations
Public Works and Engineering Commissioner Peter Pilateris estimates costs between $60,000 and $160,000 per location, with Brampton maintaining 185 community safety zones. Mayor Patrick Brown indicates that a provincial fund, established to offset speed camera losses, could cover a pilot program’s expenses.
Santos anticipates Premier Doug Ford will honor commitments to support effective road safety alternatives. “If you don’t want to use speed cameras and we’re going to be implementing other traffic-calming measures, we might as well be up to date and catch up to what other municipalities around the world are doing to keep their residents safe,” she asserts.
Upcoming Decisions
City council awaits a staff report in the coming months. Should the pilot advance, Santos aims to illuminate a school zone before the fall return to classes.
