Mayor Lurie Launches First-In-State Traffic Safety Program

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today launched San Francisco’s automated speed camera enforcement program, making it the first city in California to implement this life-saving technology. Speeding is the number one cause of serious injuries and fatalities on city streets, and speed cameras are proven to improve safety.

Mayor Lurie has made public safety his top priority, creating the San Francisco Police Department Hospitality Zone Task Force last month to improve public safety downtown 365 days a year. But with a short-staffed police department, automated enforcement tools can be critical supplements for officers.

“No matter how you get around our city, you should be able to do it without fearing for your life. That is why I am proud that San Francisco is now the first city in California to implement automated speed cameras,” said Mayor Lurie. “Speeding is the number one cause of traffic injuries and fatalities in this city. It is my job as mayor to protect our residents and visitors, and that is what we are doing today.”

Cameras will operate at 33 locations across the city in the city's High Injury Network, the 12% of streets with the highest concentration of severe injuries and fatal collisions. Once all the safety cameras are activated, there will be a 60-day no-fee warning period prior to citations being issued. People with low incomes or on public assistance can qualify for a discounted citation. Camera locations and citation amounts can be found on the SFMTA Speed Safety Camera website at SFMTA.com/SpeedCameras.

The SFMTA has been educating drivers about this change, with over a year of outreach that has included signs and ads throughout the city. Camera locations are accompanied by signs to notify drivers that speed is photo-enforced and that they need to slow down.

The Speed Safety Camera Program, administered by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), is the result of the passage of Assembly Bill 645, which allows the agency to pilot this technology for five years. The passage of this law in 2023 was the result of 14 years of work at the state level to enable this technology to be permitted in California.

“We have acted swiftly to bring this proven tool to San Francisco to shift driving behavior and make streets safer for all," said SFMTA Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum. "We are deeply grateful to our community partners who made this possible —not only because this program will help prevent serious injuries, but because safer streets are the foundation of the thriving, connected San Francisco we all want to see —where streets are inviting spaces for everyone, no matter how they travel.

“Speed cameras are a critical step to containing the spike in road deaths that has devastated families across California in recent years,” said California State Senator Scott Wiener. “Prevention is the name of the game here—we know that merely seeing the speed cameras reduces the likelihood that a driver will speed. These cameras will save lives, and I’m proud to see them piloted in San Francisco.”

“We fought for this moment for close to a decade, and now it’s finally here,” said San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu. “Every year, we've lost over 1,000 Californians in tragic speed-related collisions, and San Francisco cannot wait any longer to use this tool proven to save lives. I’m grateful to everyone, particularly my former colleagues, who supported our legislative efforts to get this law passed, and to our city for getting this program onto our streets.”

"The collapse of traffic enforcement in San Francisco over the last decade is dangerous.  Ten years into Vision Zero, we still haven’t seen a meaningful decline in traffic fatalities and injuries,” said Rafael Mandelman, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. “Although SFPD has taken steps to reverse this trend, there is still much more to be done.  At the same time we need to use every tool and technology available to supplement their efforts. Thanks and congratulations to SFMTA for their work to implement new traffic safety cameras across San Francisco, and I look forward to finding more ways to keep San Francisco’s pedestrians and cyclists safe."

Automated Speed Enforcement is a proven tool to slow vehicle speeds and save lives around the country and around the world. According to New York City’s Department of Transportation, there has been a 94% average reduction in daily speeding violations at camera locations since the program launched in 2014.

Although state law does not allow the SFMTA to use revenue from the program to address its budget deficit, the law permits money from citations to help fund additional traffic calming improvements in the city.

“Speeding destroys lives and families, which I know all too well,” said Jenny Yu, a founding member of San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets. “Speed cameras are a proven solution to prevent tragedies from speeding.” Jenny’s mom Judy was hit by a speeding driver 14 years ago in San Francisco. Judy suffered severe injuries and has required 24-hour care since the crash. 

“Speed cameras address the #1 cause of severe and fatal crashes in San Francisco,” said Jodie Medeiros, executive director of Walk San Francisco. “San Francisco’s streets will undoubtedly be safer with this technology, and we’re grateful to City leaders for acting quickly after state legislation was passed to launch speed cameras.