How many times have we cringed after watching a speeding vehicle whip by a stopped 508 Lake Shore or other streetcar with its doors open as passengers are getting on or off.

Many times the vigilant TTC drivers sound their loud horns to try and protect disembarking passengers by getting speeding vehicles to stop.

City Council has heard complaints from irate passengers and are working to step up enforcement with the use of TTC cameras and other technology to catch the streetcar runners.

A motion was approved by Council last month on a program to issue automated tickets and increase the fines for motorists and other road users who refuse to stop for streetcars with doors open with passengers embarking or leaving.

Councillor Josh Matlow, who introduced the motion, said the streetcars have had internal and external cameras since 2019 that are not being used for enforcement.

“The failure of vehicles to stop for pedestrians entering and exiting TTC streetcars is a serious and ongoing issue,” Matlow said in his motion.

He said a rider was hit by a car last September 8 that failed to stop for a disembarking streetcar along College Street. There are also near misses daily on the 508 Lake Shore streetcar line.

“Unfortunately, this issue is difficult to enforce without automation given the scale of streetcar service and frequency of stops,” he said.

Matlow said the TTC has not used its onboard cameras for the automated enforcement for motorists who fail to stop for streetcars.

“It is time that we levied stronger penalties for drivers who take the lives of pedestrians in their hands when they recklessly speed past streetcars,” the motion stated.

TTC staff is working on implementing a program and expected to report back to its board later this month with next steps.