Edmonton removing mobile photo radar from playground zones

Posted June 25, 2025 9:27 am.
Last Updated June 25, 2025 7:48 pm.
Mobile photo radar will no longer be used in playground zones in Edmonton. The change comes into effect July 1.
The City of Edmonton says mobile photo radar in playground zones was previously paid for by revenue generated by photo radar on Edmonton’s high-speed roadways.
But new rules by the provincial government led to the removal of some 1,500 photo radar sites across the province, which the Alberta UCP deemed were “cash cows.”
That makes mobile photo radar in playground zones no longer financially viable, the city says.
The city adds it will redirect resources towards “physical upgrades and creative solutions” to keep zones around playgrounds safe.
“Playground zones are some of the most sensitive spaces in our transportation system, and they have always been – and will continue to be – a priority for the city,” said Jessica Lamarre, the city’s director of safe mobility, in a statement.
“Since 2015, every elementary school in Edmonton has been assessed for safety needs, and since 2019, the City has invested over $6 million in upgrades like new crossings, traffic calming and visibility improvements.
“These upgrades have helped make playground zones spaces that have some of the lowest rates of speeding and collisions in the city.”

The Edmonton Police Service, in a statement to CityNews, says the scaling back of photo radar in playground zones should not be interpreted as “implicit approval to engage in high risk or other unlawful driving behaviours.”
“Regardless of the Province’s automated enforcement guidelines or the City’s decision to scale back the tool, the EPS will continue in its on-going traffic safety efforts using more traditional direct policing measures,” EPS communications advisor Brooke Timpson wrote in an email.
“We will also work collaboratively with our numerous traffic safety partners to maintain and prioritize the safety of the public using its existing response and specialized traffic resources to ensure that those individuals choosing to engage in dangerous or other unlawful behaviours are held accountable.”
Alberta’s transportation minister told CityNews in a statement, “Photo radar was never meant to be a revenue-generating tool. It was intended to enhance public safety.” Adding he’s “encouraged to see municipalities taking a new approach to improve traffic safety through effective road infrastructure upgrades and traffic calming measures.”
Edmonton’s director of safe mobility says generally they aren’t seeing many collisions in school zones, because of more traffic calming measures like speed bumps. She’s hoping by adding more, it will slow drivers down 24/7.
“Have you seen a difference because of those?” asked Breanne, a parent living near a playground zone. “I definitely have seen a difference because of speed bumps. I don’t love speed bumps. I do like the things that they stick out in the middle of the road because it makes it nicer for us to cross the road.”