Speed limits in neighbourhoods and around schools

Speed is a contributing factor in approximately one third of fatal collisions according to the Ontario Traffic Council. The City is making neighbourhood roads safer for all travellers by reducing speed limits in specific areas.

Lower speeds are proven to reduce the severity of injuries. Additionally, slower vehicles can stop faster and avoid collisions more easily.

Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that survival rates dramatically increase with lower speeds. Those hit by a vehicle going 50 km/h have a 15% chance of surviving an impact. If the vehicle is going 30 km/h or slower, the chance of surviving an impact jumps to 90%.

Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act defines the default speed limit for roads as 50 km/h, unless otherwise posted.

Neighbourhood area speed limits

Instead of reducing speed limits street by street, neighbourhood area speed limits establish a reduced speed limit for an entire neighbourhood.

In 2022, the Neighbourhood Area Speed Limit Project reduced all neighbourhood speed limits to 40 km/h and established community safety zones.

New signs installed at the entrances and exits to neighbourhoods indicate where the speed limits are in effect.

You can view the interactive Neighbourhood Area Speed Limit Project map which shows neighbourhoods with speed limit changes and new community safety zones.

School zones

Existing 30 km/h speed limits in school zones located in local neighbourhoods are changing to time-of-day speed limits.

The speed limit will remain 30 km/h from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. Outside these times, the speed limit will be 40 km/h.

Work has begun on these changes with completion expected by early 2026.

All school zones in neighbourhoods are being addressed in the same way under this project. The City will review speed limit changes in school zones on major roads on a case-by-case basis.

Community safety zones

Community safety zones are created where many people are at higher risk of being hit by vehicles, such as around schools, parks and hospitals, and where traffic enforcement is possible, expected and reasonable.

Many set fines, such as speeding and traffic signal related offences, are doubled within community safety zones.

As part of the Neighbourhood Area Speed Limit Project, community safety zones were established in all local school zones on City roadways.

The City is developing technical criteria for the community safety zones so they remain sensible and useful.