A petition opposing automated speed cameras in Greenwich school zones has gathered 671 signature as of Wednesday, reflecting growing debate among residents about how the town should enforce traffic safety near schools.
The online petition, titled “End Speed Cameras in Greenwich – Prioritize Other Safety Measures,” calls on town officials to remove the automated enforcement system and pursue other approaches to slowing traffic in school zones.
Supporters of the petition argue the cameras raise concerns about fairness, safety, and government surveillance.
“If slowing down on I-95 is considered dangerous then so is route one,” wrote a signer identified as Viola. “It’s not the responsibility of the cars to watch out for pedestrians on a major highway.”
Others say the reduced speeds required when school zone lights are flashing could create new traffic risks along heavily traveled corridors such as the Post Road.
“I am all for safety and safety measures, but slowing down to 20 and 25 miles an hour, especially on the Post Road is downright dangerous,” wrote Jessica.
Several petition signers argued the cameras represent an unnecessary expansion of automated enforcement.
Some petition supporters said the town should focus on infrastructure improvements rather than automated ticketing.
“These cameras are stupid and are unnecessary,” wrote Jacob. “It is the job of the pedestrian to make sure things are safe before crossing.”
Another commenter suggested the town should invest in sidewalks rather than automated enforcement.
“If anything, the town should be helping these students have sidewalks, not punish drivers when there’s no actual cops to be actually ticketing people going over school speed limits,” wrote Hannah.
Police officials, however, say the program was introduced after data showed widespread speeding near schools.
According to the Greenwich Police Department, speed studies conducted in 2024 recorded 44,208 speeding violations in a five-day period across school zones where cameras were later installed.
The department reported that those school zones collectively see 223,109 drivers per week, with a significant share exceeding posted limits.
Among those violations, 28,416 vehicles were traveling between 11 and 14 miles per hour over the speed limit, 13,152 vehicles were traveling between 15 and 20 miles per hour over, and 1,940 vehicles were traveling more than 21 miles per hour above the enforceable speed limit, according to the department.
The automated enforcement system was installed near several schools, including Central Middle School, Glenville School, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich High School, Parkway School, North Street School, Brunswick Lower School, and Eagle Hill School.
Police said the goal of the program is to reduce speed in areas where children frequently cross streets.
“We know that speed kills; statistics show a child struck by a vehicle traveling 40 MPH, only has a one in 10 chance of survival, but if you slow that down to 20 MPH, that same child has a much-improved survival rate of nine in 10,” the department stated in the press release.
The department also cited federal data. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 64 percent of child pedestrians killed in traffic crashes occur during weekday hours between 6 a.m. Monday and 6 p.m. Friday.
The enforcement program began with a 30-day warning period starting October 6, 2025, when motorists exceeding school zone limits by more than 10 miles per hour received mailed warning notices.
Full enforcement began on November 5, 2025, when drivers exceeding the limit by 10 miles per hour or more began receiving civil citations.
Police noted that the violations do not result in license points or insurance penalties and are enforced only when school zone beacons are flashing and children are present.
“Our goal is to increase safety for students, parents, teachers, and the motoring public traveling through our school zones,” the department stated.
Lieutenant Timothy Kelly described the program’s broader objective as “Zero crashes, Zero injuries, and Zero endangered lives.”
With the petition continuing to gather signatures, the debate over automated enforcement reflects a broader question confronting many communities: how to balance technological enforcement tools with residents’ expectations about privacy, fairness, and traditional policing.
In Greenwich, the growing number of signatures suggests the conversation about speed cameras — and the future of the program — is far from settled.
