Vandals have once again targeted the Parkside Drive speed camera, marking the seventh incident in the past 10 months. The initial vandalism occurred in November last year following the approval of a comprehensive street redesign for Parkside Drive.
Faraz Gholizadeh, co-chair of the community group Safe Parkside, expressed concern over the repeated destruction of the speed camera, emphasizing the compromised safety of the street due to these actions. Toronto police were alerted to the vandalism on Sunday morning and have launched a mischief investigation, suspecting that the incident took place overnight.
The installation of the speed camera in 2022 was prompted by a tragic incident where an elderly couple lost their lives in a five-vehicle crash caused by a speeding driver. Unfortunately, the camera has become a frequent target for vandals, with the latest incident occurring in July shortly after a security camera was installed nearby.
Residents have consistently voiced their concerns about the hazardous conditions on Parkside Drive, highlighting issues such as heavy traffic and reckless speeding. The ongoing vandalism of the speed camera continues to raise safety concerns among community members.