A Toronto city councillor says more needs to be done to catch drivers who fail to stop behind streetcars with open doors.

In a tweet Tuesday, Ward 19 Coun. Mike Layton asked the TTC if it would be possible to install cameras on streetcars to catch drivers who don’t follow the rules.

Speaking to CP24 Wednesday, TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said it is “always a concern” when a motorist passes open streetcar doors and added the TTC is looking into the idea of installing new cameras.

“A passenger who is exiting the streetcar or somebody who wants to board from the street runs the risk of being seriously injured or worse. It is a violation of the Highway Traffic Act frankly,” Ross said. 

“It is technology that exists. School buses use them (cameras) in the United States, for example, and in other jurisdictions."

The TTC is still investigating what the cost would be to install this type of camera on streetcars.

"It would require some technology that we do not yet have on board the streetcars and we don't know what the costs are," Ross said. "We would presumably apply this to the new streetcars, we wouldn't spend money to apply it to the old fleet. The first thing is what does the technology look like, how does it work and how do you implement it."

Ross said the idea of installing cameras to catch drivers who fail to stop for streetcars “isn’t necessarily new” and has been bandied about before, given the fact that Toronto’s streetcars operate in mixed traffic unlike in many other cities with streetcars.

Nonetheless, Layton told CP24 he is “happy” the TTC is looking into it.

“(I’m) looking forward to seeing the results of their staff report. Part of the issue is technical and part regulatory,” he said.

Layton’s request comes less than a year after a girl was seriously injured after she was struck by a vehicle while stepping off of a streetcar in Regent Park last March.

In a statement emailed to CP24 Wednesday, Mayor John Tory said he is glad the TTC is studying the idea.

"If the TTC recommends it, I'm prepared to modify my earlier request to Premier Wynne to allow greater use of technology to enhance pedestrian safety and enforce existing traffic laws. Until now we have relied on methods like streetcar operators recording licenses which are sent to police who send out warnings," Tory's statement read.

 

"This proposed use of cameras on streetcars could be no more than a 21st century answer to protecting pedestrians and enforcing a common sense law effectively while at the same time reflecting the fact that we can make better use of highly-trained police officers.”