On March 20, we joined Transportation Authority Vice Chair Danny Sauter (District 3), Transportation Authority Board Member Rafael Mandelman (District 8), Mayor Daniel Lurie, City Attorney David Chiu, Families for Safe Street, Walk SF, city leaders, and advocates to celebrate the launch of SFMTA’s Speed Safety Camera Program.
Speed safety cameras are a proven tool to address excessive speeding and reduce severe and fatal traffic collisions. With the passage of Assembly Bill 645, San Francisco can now utilize this life-saving technology to slow down speeding vehicles on our streets.
In San Francisco, speeding is one of the most common factors for injury-causing car crashes.
The 33 locations where speed cameras will be implemented are listed on the SFMTA’s website. For the first two months of operation, speed safety cameras will issue warning notices to speeding vehicles. After the initial 60 days, the speed safety cameras will begin to issue fines.
Motorists speeding 11 miles per hour over the posted speed limit is subject to enforcement. Notifications of violations will be mailed to the registered owner of the speeding vehicle within two weeks of the violation. People with low income or who receive public assistance will be eligible for discounted citations.
All speed cameras are located on the Vision Zero High Injury Network, the 12% of San Francisco streets that account for more than 68% of traffic-related severe injuries or fatalities. Speed safety cameras have been dispersed among all 11 supervisorial districts. The Transportation Authority supported the program’s public education campaign with $150,000 in funding from the transportation sales tax.
Speed cameras have been successfully used in New York and Portland to significantly lower traffic deaths and injuries. In New York, specifically areas where speed cameras were installed, traffic deaths and injuries decreased by 70%. In Portland, traffic deaths decreased by 46%, with an additional 85% decrease in excessive speeds.
For more information on speed safety camera placement and development, visit SFMTA’s website.