Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted this motion on August 25, 2026. It asks the city administration to present a plan for deploying photo radars in front of all primary and secondary schools in Montréal, with locations prioritized; the stated goal is to improve safety around schools.
- The motion asks for the plan “as soon as possible,” in line with the city’s Vision Zero 2025–2027 action plan.
- It says any revenue from tickets should continue to be reinvested in road-safety initiatives, including safer areas around schools.
- It asks the council to urge provincial political parties to publicly support faster installation of photo radars in school zones.
- The motion does not itself install radars, create a fine, or set a deployment schedule.
What it means for you#
- City administration: It is asked to bring forward a deployment plan covering primary and secondary schools across Montréal, with priorities guided by road-safety concerns.
- People travelling near schools: The motion does not change speed limits or require drivers to do anything new. Any effect on radar locations or enforcement would depend on later decisions and implementation.
- Schools and residents: The motion does not create a process for schools or residents to request a radar or take part in choosing locations.
Money#
No publicly available information on the cost of preparing the plan or deploying radars.
- The motion says revenue from tickets, if any, should continue to go to road-safety initiatives, including safer school-area designs. It does not give an amount or change the source of that revenue.
What is unclear#
- How many radars the plan would propose, where they would go, and how locations would be prioritized.
- When the plan would be presented; “as soon as possible” does not set a date.
- Whether the plan would lead to radars being installed at every school, or only set out priorities for possible deployment.
- What the plan would cost, who would pay, and how it would fit with the administration’s existing work on mobile radars.
- The motion says the current legal framework limits the city’s ability to deploy radars effectively, but does not explain what changes would be needed or when they could happen.
Case for#
- The motion is intended to address speeding and road-safety risks around schools, including risks to children, families, school staff, and nearby residents.
- It cites pilot-project results of a 36.6% reduction in urban collisions and an 11 km/h reduction in average speed. These are claims cited by the motion, not guaranteed results in Montréal.
- A city-wide plan could set priorities for radar deployment and connect it to the city’s stated Vision Zero goals.
Case against#
- The motion asks for a plan, not for radars to be installed. It does not guarantee when, where, or whether any cameras will be deployed.
- The motion itself says the current legal framework limits the city’s ability to use automated speed enforcement. The plan’s practical effect may therefore depend on legal changes not made by this decision.
- The motion gives no cost estimate or details on how radar locations would be selected, leaving the scale and trade-offs of deployment unclear.