Speeding isn’t just breaking the law—it’s risking lives. Slow down, drive responsibly. When you increase your speed, you decrease your stopping distance. Speeding costs, either in fines, injuries, or loss of life. Aggressive driving won’t save you time, and it could cost lives. Stay patient, follow the speed limit, and keep our roads safer for everyone. Spotted a speed camera in Ottawa? They’re making a difference! Data shows a ~200% increase in speed limit compliance, which reduces the risks of collisions. Learn more: Automated Enforcement
The signs of aggressive driving are everywhere. In Ottawa, 61 per cent of fatal and major injury collisions between 2019 and 2023 were due to high-risk driving. This scenario depicts just a few examples of what is considered aggressive driving. According to the Province of Ontario, aggressive driving includes:
- Speeding
- Tailgating or following too closely
- Cutting off other drivers, or cutting in front and then slowing down
- Refusing to yield the right of way
- Honking repeatedly, or for no reason
- Running red lights
- Excessive lane changes or weaving through traffic
- Passing too close to cyclists
- Stopping on a pedestrian crosswalk at an intersection
Learn how to avoid aggressive driving, stay calm and alert behind the wheel, protect yourself from aggressive drivers and what to do when aggressive driving happens by visiting ottawa.ca.
Road Safety Initiatives:
- There are 60 Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras actively enforcing speed limits across the city, and another 24 locations planned for 2025. View the full list of ASE locations on the Automated Speed Enforcement web page. The location of each active camera is also available via the City’s online traffic map.
- Community Safety Zones (CSZ) are designated near schools to protect children walking or cycling. In these zones, fines for certain offences—like speeding or careless driving—are doubled to reinforce safety.
- Red-light cameras help reduce aggressive driving behavior. Studies have shown that red-light violations can decrease by up to 42% within months of camera installation. Red-light cameras are placed at high-risk intersections across the city, selected based on measurable safety benefits associated with the installation of Red-light cameras and collision data.
- Learn more about sharing the road as a motorist and staying safe around cyclists, e-bikes, and pedestrians.
