Edmonton ditches mobile photo radar use in playground zones
Playground zones in Edmonton will soon no longer have mobile photo radar, the City announced on Wednesday.
Starting Canada Day, mobile photo radar will no longer be used in playground zones, with the City saying the move reflects its ongoing commitment to Vision Zero and its long-standing use of data-informed and sustainable strategies to improve traffic safety.
“Playground zones are some of the most sensitive spaces in our transportation system, and they have always been — and will continue to be — a priority for the City,” said Jessica Lamarre, director of Safe Mobility.
Lamarre added that over the past decade, every elementary school in Edmonton has been assessed for safety needs, and since 2019, the City has invested over $6 million in upgrades like new crossings, traffic calming, and visibility improvements.
City of Edmonton
The City added that enforcement in playground zones was made possible through revenue generated by photo radar deployed on Edmonton’s high-speed roadways. However, new restrictions under the Government of Alberta’s Automated Traffic Enforcement Guideline have significantly reduced where photo radar can be used. Without that broader revenue stream, continuing enforcement in areas with low rates of speeding is no longer financially sustainable.
Physical upgrades and creative solutions that respond to the broader safety concerns regularly raised by students, families, and school communities will be looked at moving forward.
“Speeding is only one part of the challenge,” Lamarre said. “We routinely hear concerns about traffic flow, crossing safety, and poor driver behaviour in playground zones from the public. While automated enforcement is incredibly effective at reducing speeds, it doesn’t target this wider range of challenges. Reinvesting these funds allows us to respond more directly to what people are experiencing every day and to make playground zones safer in a more lasting, visible way.”
The change takes effect July 1, with the start of summer break. This timing gives the City time to share the new direction with school communities and prepare for the 2025/2026 school year.