A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on a notorious Toronto roadway just two weeks after the provincial government's ban on speed cameras took effect, prompting renewed calls for immediate safety measures.
Incident Follows Removal of Key Safety Tool
According to community advocacy group Safe Parkside, a pedestrian was hit by a turning motorist at the intersection of Parkside Drive and Howard Park Avenue on November 27, 2025. This incident occurred a mere fortnight after the Province of Ontario's prohibition on automated speed enforcement cameras became active.
In a letter dated January 12, 2026, addressed to Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Gord Perks, the group's co-chair, Faraz Gholizadeh, expressed hope for the victim's recovery. He labeled the collision as "the latest in a long list of predictable, preventable and unacceptable incidents on Parkside Dr."
A History of Tragedy and Vandalism
The stretch of Parkside Drive has a tragic history. A speed camera was originally installed in 2022 following a horrific crash on October 12, 2021, that claimed the lives of an elderly couple, Valdemar Avila, 71, and his wife Fatima, 69. They were rear-ended by a speeding driver at a red light at Spring Road.
However, that very camera, which was once the city's busiest, became a frequent target of vandalism. Its operational life was cut short by the provincial ban, leaving the community searching for alternatives.
City Response and Community Frustration
In its letter, Safe Parkside questioned when promised speed humps would be installed to replace the defunct camera. The group anticipates the city's response will cite regulations preventing such measures on arterial roads. They counter by asking why those same regulations, which require sidewalks on both sides of arterial roads, are not being enforced for safety.
A spokesperson for Mayor Olivia Chow's office stated that keeping people safe is her top priority. The statement outlined past safety upgrades on Parkside Drive, including:
- Lowering the speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 km/h.
- Installing new traffic signals and improving lighting.
- Upgrading sidewalks and adding parking to narrow the roadway.
- Implementing the now-banned speed camera.
The mayor's office noted that a council-endorsed redesign plan for Parkside, which includes cycle lanes, is currently paused due to provincial legislation. The statement reaffirmed the mayor's belief that speed cameras are an effective tool to protect people.
Frustrated by the lack of permanent solutions, residents have taken minor measures into their own hands. Safe Parkside reported that the Parkside Drive crosswalk button is now kept permanently activated, a tactic they say underscores the city's failure to address rampant speeding.
The Ministry of Transportation did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
