San Francisco Sun

San Francisco, CA – Today, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve legislation authored by Mayor London N. Breed that would streamline the deployment of new automated speed enforcement cameras in San Francisco. This new speed safety enforcement tool is now available thanks to a state law change made in 2023, which Mayor Breed also sponsored.

In a statement following the approval of the legislation, Mayor London Breed emphasized the importance of addressing speed to enhance road safety. Breed stated, “Creating safer streets starts with addressing speed, which is the largest cause of injury and death in traffic collisions.”

City Attorney David Chiu, who has been a long-time advocate for automated speed enforcement, highlighted the impact of speed on severe and fatal car crashes. Chiu expressed his satisfaction, saying, “In over 200 cities in America, automated speed enforcement has been proven to slow drivers down and save lives. Thank you to all of the advocates and policymakers for fighting for this life-saving technology.”

San Francisco County Transportation Authority Chair and District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman underscored the ongoing need to combat traffic fatalities, stating, “Ten years after the City set the goal of getting to zero traffic fatalities, we still see far too many traffic fatalities and severe injuries on our streets. San Francisco must use every tool we can to curb reckless driving and protect our most vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.”

Jeffrey Tumlin, SFMTA Director of Transportation, expressed confidence in the effectiveness of speed safety cameras, stating, “Speed safety cameras have been a proven tool in reducing speeds around the world and in many parts of this country.”

The approved legislation will enable the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA) to expedite the implementation of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Cameras. The streamlined process is expected to have the cameras operational by 2025, a year earlier than previously anticipated.

The deployment plan for the ASE program includes strategically distributing cameras along San Francisco’s High Injury Network to target areas with a history of speeding and severe crashes. Additionally, the cameras will play a crucial role in enforcing lower speeds near school sites, parks, social service sites, and neighborhood commercial districts.

As the city progresses towards enhancing road safety, the next steps involve finalizing camera locations, selecting a vendor, implementing a citation process, conducting community education campaigns, and installing the cameras. The launch of Automated Speed Enforcement cameras is anticipated in early 2025.

Mayor Breed's commitment to road safety extends beyond the deployment of speed cameras, with plans to work collaboratively with various stakeholders to review existing Vision Zero policies and propose recommendations for future safety initiatives in San Francisco.

Vision Zero remains a key component of the city's broader transportation goals, aligning with Mayor Breed's vision to create a network of safe routes for all individuals to walk, bike, and use mobility devices, ensuring equitable distribution of transportation benefits and supporting economic recovery.