Last year, Toronto saw the lowest number of traffic-related fatalities in ten years, coinciding with the removal of a significant road safety initiative from the city. According to the most recent data, there were 39 deaths on Toronto’s roads in 2025, even fewer than in 2020, when pandemic restrictions resulted in significantly reduced traffic. Among the recorded fatalities were 19 pedestrians, 12 motorists, five motorcyclists, two cyclists, and one individual using “micromobility” modes like electric bikes and e-scooters.
This marks a significant decrease from a decade ago when the city experienced a peak in traffic deaths, with over half of them being pedestrians in 2016. In response to this, the City of Toronto implemented its Vision Zero strategy aimed at eradicating traffic-related fatalities. The strategy involves various road safety measures such as street redesigns to curb speeding, the introduction of speed cameras, and red light cameras.
Over the past decade, there has been a general downward trend in traffic fatalities since the launch of the Vision Zero plan. The strategy received its largest budget to date in 2025, allowing for expansion. However, despite these efforts, the city’s speed cameras, which had doubled in number to 150 in 2025, were removed in the fall due to new provincial legislation. This move has raised concerns among safety advocates, who emphasize the importance of speed cameras in reducing speeding and preventing accidents.
Premier Doug Ford and his government have criticized speed cameras as ineffective and have replaced them with warning signs aimed at slowing down drivers. The removal of speed cameras has sparked worries about the safety of school zones in 2026, where many of the cameras were initially installed. Although Vision Zero has lost one of its key tools, the strategy’s manager highlights the implementation of additional safety measures such as speed humps, school crossing guards, and red light cameras to maintain road safety.
While progress has been made towards achieving the Vision Zero goal, concerns persist regarding the safety of pedestrians, who continue to face risks on the streets. The focus remains on enhancing road safety measures to create streets that prioritize safety over vehicle speed.