Toronto’s speed camera program is under renewed scrutiny as vandalism and political backlash mount, but road safety experts say the evidence is clear: automated speed enforcement works.
While I agree we should also be putting in place effective structural interventions, this is a good example of how people are held to a completely different standard of behaviour once they get into a car. Speeding is illegal. Feel free to lobby for that to change, but right now it’s against the law. We wouldn’t suggest the enforcement of any other crime should be avoided in case it “infuriates” the perpetrators, and speeding should be the same. Motor crime is crime.
A lot of laws are enforced with a lot of leeway. It allows a judicial system to function. Inflexible enforcement has never worked to create societal change.
While I agree we should also be putting in place effective structural interventions, this is a good example of how people are held to a completely different standard of behaviour once they get into a car. Speeding is illegal. Feel free to lobby for that to change, but right now it’s against the law. We wouldn’t suggest the enforcement of any other crime should be avoided in case it “infuriates” the perpetrators, and speeding should be the same. Motor crime is crime.
A lot of laws are enforced with a lot of leeway. It allows a judicial system to function. Inflexible enforcement has never worked to create societal change.