For the second time this month, a speed enforcement camera intended to catch drivers going too fast on Parkside Drive has been cut off on the high-traffic thoroughfare in Toronto’s west end that has been the subject of safety concerns for years.

Faraz Gholizadeh, a local resident and co-chair of the community advocacy group Safe Parkside, said he noticed the speed enforcement camera was cut off Saturday morning. Gholizadeh said he observed workers reassembling it the day before after it was vandalized a few weeks ago.

“Obviously some people are very disturbed and annoyed by the presence of the speed camera, which is a bit confusing because the camera is there for safety purposes,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it’s not actually doing what it wants to do because the street is still too dangerous. But cutting it off is definitely not the solution.”

A City of Toronto spokesperson confirmed the camera went out for the second time this month. The spokesperson said the city’s vendor is currently assessing the damage to the speed camera and will develop a plan for repair.

Parkside residents have long complained that the street is extremely dangerous due to heavy traffic and drivers going too fast. Last year, the highway was at the top of the list of the most speeding tickets issued in the city.

The street serves as a major north-south thoroughfare, with approximately 21,000 vehicles and 1,000 public transport users traveling each day. latest city staff report.

WATCH | Residents raise safety concerns regarding Parkside Drive:

The same report states that nearly 1,500 crashes have occurred on Parkside Drive over the past decade, resulting in five serious injuries and three deaths.

Gholizadeh said the street has serious safety concerns. “If the city doesn’t act soon, more people will be injured, more people will die.”

Faraz Gholizadeh has been advocating for safety improvements on Parkside Drive for years. (David Hill/CBC)

Luke Kus lives across the street from the speed camera and has lived in the area for nearly 20 years. He says he’s seen many memorials to people killed in street collisions over the years.

“There’s definitely a lot of accident potential,” he said.

Kus said it was “a shame” that the camera had been vandalized again, given how dangerous the road could be, especially for pedestrians.

One in October 2021 old couple killed While they were stopped at a red light on the street, a man driving at high speed hit them.

This led the council to launch ongoing work on the street, reducing the speed limit from 50km/h to 40km/h, adding speed cameras and new traffic signals and signs telling drivers to reduce their speed.

Earlier this month, Toronto city council approved a plan for new bike lanes on Parkside Drive as part of a larger plan to make the street safer. The plan also includes the addition of intersection safety improvements at Lake Shore Boulevard W. and Bloor Street W., new and updated bus stops and designated turn lanes at intersections.

Gholizadeh said he was optimistic about the safety measures in the new plan but criticized how long it took the city to create them.

“You don’t need three years to study this. You just need to open your eyes, take one look and think this is unacceptable.”

WATCH | The City proposed redesigning Parkside Drive: