New traffic safety team coming to Calgary as Alberta reduces photo radar
Posted Mar 27, 2025 11:20 am.
Last Updated Mar 27, 2025 6:35 pm.
A new team of peace officers and sergeants will soon be patrolling Calgary, aiming to improve road safety as Alberta moves to greatly reduce photo radar locations.
The City of Calgary said Thursday the new Traffic Safety Team (TST) will be a dedicated team of eight peace officers and two sergeants who focus exclusively on enforcing speed limits in playground zones, advancing traffic safety education, and addressing noisy vehicle violations.
Calgary says this team was approved by city council in November 2023 in direct response to growing demands from the community for more collaboration with law enforcement.
Beginning this month, the TST will work with the Calgary Police Service (CPS) and Calgary 911 to strengthen traffic enforcement while prioritizing public education.
“Our priority is to protect Calgarians, especially in high-risk areas like playground zones,” said Community Safety Inspector Brad Johnson, spokesperson for the TST. “The Traffic Safety Act provides us with the framework to take meaningful action against traffic violations that put lives at risk.
“Our team is fully trained and equipped to address key concerns like speeding, noise pollution, and other safety hazards while fostering a culture of responsible driving.”
Members of the TST will have body-worn cameras and in-vehicle monitoring tools to ensure transparency and accountability, the city says.
Data collected from traffic monitoring will help identify high-risk areas and direct enforcement where it is needed most.
The city says Calgarians can expect to see increased presence in high-complaint areas, with enforcement efforts expanding throughout the year.
Public awareness campaigns will also be rolled out ahead of stricter bylaw enforcement to make sure everyone understands the new initiatives.
“We want to give residents confidence that their concerns about traffic safety are being addressed,” said Johnson. “By proactively engaging with communities, we aim to build trust, encourage voluntary compliance, and ultimately make Calgary’s roads safer for all.”
Alberta ending photo radar in some areas next month
The announcement of the TST comes with confirmation the province is putting an end to several automatic traffic enforcement locations come April 1.
Alberta has repeatedly said photo radar is a “cash cow,” claiming it is being used to generate millions of dollars in revenue with no clear evidence of improvements to traffic safety.
Starting next month, new rules will ban photo radar on numbered provincial highways and connectors, restricting it only to school, playground, and construction zones. Intersection safety devices in Alberta will also be limited to red light enforcement only, ending what is commonly known as “speed on green” tickets.
“We have officially killed the photo radar cash cow and the revenue-generating “fishing holes” that made Alberta the biggest user of photo radar in Canada. The updated guideline will ensure that photo radar is used for safety only,” said Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen. “The new provincial traffic safety fund will support municipalities in physical improvements at key intersections, helping to reduce traffic risks and enhance safe roads.”
Calgary’s Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean agrees with the incoming changes.
“Shifting photo radar to playgrounds and construction zones enhances safety where it matters most — protecting our children and workers on Calgary’s roads,” he said. “I’m proud to back this important step toward safer communities.”
Municipalities are allowed to request provincial approval for an exemption to the photo radar ban in high-collision locations. To do so, a business case must be submitted detailing high-collision frequency and severity at the site, relative to similar locations, and show how other safety measures aren’t possible or effective. To be approve, the municipality must also commit to audit the exempted site every two years to assess how effective photo radar is at that location.
Revenue from photo radar has long been used to fund various community elements, including road maintenance and the police service.
With the end of photo radar, the province says it has created a new $13-million Traffic Safety Fund for municipalities to upgrade local roads and intersections that pose demonstrated safety risks.
Once the application process is finalized, Alberta says details on how to apply will be made available.
