Community Safety Zone Implementation

A CSZ is a section of road defined through the Township’s Community Safety Zone By-law. CSZ’s provide an environment to improve safety on certain sections of road where public safety is of particular concern. Certain Highway Traffic Act fines (including speeding, careless driving, distracted driving, failing to comply with road signs etc.) are doubled within a CSZ. License suspensions and potential convictions can be amplified within CSZ’s.

Speed limits in CSZ’s remain the same. However, the aim is to enhance traffic compliance through the implementation of increased visual signage and stricter penalties for violations within these areas. The primary objective is to elevate the safety of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users near locations such as schools and parks.

In consultation with the Traffic Safety Committee, Township staff developed a Community Safety Zone (CSZ) Policy with criteria for the purpose of evaluating roadways that fall within the Township of Oro-Medonte’s jurisdiction. 

CSZ Policy criteria was used to establish the Community Safety Zone By-law through Justification 1 as outlined in the CSZ Policy. These areas are considered high priority and obvious to drivers and pedestrians. The Township considered a number of factors when determining appropriate locations for the establishment of CSZ’s in Oro-Medonte including areas:

• adjacent to elementary or secondary schools;
• adjacent to senior’s centres and institutions;
• adjacent to hospitals or medical centres; and
• adjacent to township-wide/regional parks and community parks as defined in the Township’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan

All future CZS’s will be established using criteria outlined in the CSZ Policy.

The Township can only establish CSZ’s on roadways within the Township’s jurisdiction. County of Simcoe and Kings Highways are not included in the Policy or By-law. If your road or area was not established as a CSZ, it does not fit within the established criteria of Justification 1. However, as the Township undertakes traffic studies, data collected will form part of the consideration for future CSZ’s within Oro-Medonte.

As the community grows and changes (i.e. establishment of new neighbourhoods, community parks etc.), these areas will be reviewed for the potential application of new CSZ’s following the Community Safety Zone Policy criteria.

As routine traffic studies are conducted in the township, data will be collected to evaluate criteria required for establishment of CSZ’s beyond Justification 1 (i.e. schools, institutions, regional parks, hospitals/medical centres) as referenced above.

Please contact the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122. The OPP’s Provincial Communications Centres operate 24/7, answering emergency and non-emergency calls for service. Incidents may also be reported online through Ontario Provincial Police - Online Reporting (opp.ca).

The Township appreciates telephone calls and emails from residents to discuss concerns pertaining to Township roadways. If you have a concern, please contact the Township’s transportation division by e-mail at transportation@oro-medonte.ca or by telephone at 705-487-2171 ext. 2122. Township staff will document your traffic concern and take necessary steps to determine possible solutions. Additionally, Township staff will evaluate the road section to determine if a CSZ is applicable.

As Community Safety Zones (CSZ) come into effect, signage will be placed showing these areas as CSZ’s. As stated above, certain Highway Traffic Act offence fines (including speeding) are doubled within the CSZ. Signage providing a reminder outlining these zones and the increased penalties with enforcement will aid in changing driving behaviour.

Automated Speed Enforcement can only be implemented in areas that are established as CSZ’s and must meet a set of criteria to be used. The Township’s Community Safety Zone By-law allows the review of use of automated speed enforcement. However, automated speed enforcement is not part of this implementation.

The Township is working hard to have all CSZ’s established by end of 2024. As signage is put in place, zones become active. The Township is setting up zones based on priority, with school CSZ’s being the highest priority.

To review the CSZ Policy, please see Community Safety Zone Policy.

To review the CSZ By-law, please see Community Safety Zone By-law.