Last year, Toronto experienced its lowest number of traffic-related fatalities in ten years, coinciding with the removal of a significant road safety program in the city. According to the latest data, there were 39 deaths on Toronto’s roads in 2025, even fewer than in 2020 when pandemic restrictions led to reduced traffic. The fatalities included 19 pedestrians, 12 motorists, five motorcyclists, two cyclists, and one involving “micromobility” like electric bikes and e-scooters.
This marked a significant decrease compared to a decade ago when fatalities peaked at 78 in 2016, with over half of them being pedestrians. In response to these concerning numbers, the City of Toronto implemented its Vision Zero initiative aimed at eradicating traffic-related deaths. The program involved various safety measures such as street redesigns to deter speeding, and the installation of speed and red light cameras.
Over the past decade since the initiative’s launch, there has been a general downward trend in traffic fatalities. The projects manager for Vision Zero noted that the strategy had its largest budget in 2025, enabling significant expansion across various programs. However, despite these efforts, the removal of the city’s speed cameras, which had doubled in number to 150 in 2025, raised concerns following the implementation of new provincial legislation.
Advocates highlighted the effectiveness of speed cameras in reducing speeding and emphasized their importance in enhancing road safety. Premier Doug Ford and his government, on the other hand, criticized speed cameras as ineffective and opted for large warning signs to deter speeding instead. This decision has sparked concerns among road safety advocates, particularly regarding the safety of school zones previously monitored by the removed speed cameras.
While acknowledging the loss of speed cameras as a setback, Vision Zero’s manager emphasized the implementation of multiple safety measures to ensure road safety. Initiatives such as speed humps, school crossing guard programs, and red light cameras have been expanded to compensate for the absence of speed cameras. Despite the progress made towards the Vision Zero goal, advocates stress the need for continued efforts to prioritize pedestrian safety and redesign streets for enhanced safety rather than speed.