In March 2025, San Francisco became the first city to launch a speed camera safety program on its trafficways. The passage of California Assembly Bill 645 approved 56 total cameras installed along 33 high-traffic roads across town. These cameras monitor traffic in both directions, or just one on San Francisco’s many one-way streets. SFMTA had cameras installed and operational by June 2025, kicking off a short grace period before fines ensued that August. While speeding has dropped remarkably on several monitored streets in the months since, traffic control may be revealing another benefit.
San Francisco’s thirty-three most dangerous intersections per SFMTA.
The cameras confirmed San Francisco’s most dangerous intersections. Traffic hot spots include Fulton Street between Arguello and 2nd Avenue in the Inner Richmond District, Crocker-Amazon’s Geneva Avenue between Prague Street and Brookdale Avenue, and Bayshore Boulevard between 101’s off-ramp and Tunnel Avenue. Vehicles traveling ten or more miles above the posted speed limit trip sensors that trigger the camera. Motorists caught violating traffic laws on camera have been receiving violations for nine months now.
Figures released by SFMTA earlier this month appear to demonstrate the cameras’ efficacy. The number of drivers exceeding speed limits by at least ten miles per hour has decreased by nearly 80%. Incidents of speeding on SFMTA-designated high-risk roadways now monitored by camera dropped by around 40,000. An estimated 11% of drivers using these roads were speeding before the program took effect. After cameras were installed, that number dropped to two percent. Still, just two thirds of drivers caught speeding received citations, and even repeat offenders received no more than two.
How many cameras do you think record your image in one day? But hey, they keep us safe…ish.
The most dramatic reduction in speeding occurred near the North Beach Branch Library and the Joe DiMaggio Playground Park. If decreased speeding matters anywhere, it’s parks and schools. Data pulled from the SFMTA says a pedestrian struck by a car traveling at 40 miles per hour has a 20% chance of surviving. Survival chances for a pedestrian struck by a car moving at 20 MPH are much higher at 90%. Driving slower gives you better control of your vehicle’s momentum; the faster you go, the longer it takes to brake.
While speed cameras have some concerned about the expanding normalization of surveillance, that they could save lives complicates the debate. Unsurprisingly it makes sense that reducing your speed leads to decreased pedestrian fatalities. The number of pedestrian fatalities in San Francisco exceeded the murder rate (45 compared to 34) in 2024. In 2025, deaths in the same category fell to 25, the largest year-over-year drop since 2014. Last year also marked the lowest death rate since 2020, whose modest figure is attributed to the COVID-19 quarantine.
Now you can be caught on camera cursing and screaming through your windshield at one-way intersections that make zero sense and send you driving in circles.
So far this year, eight people have been struck and killed by motorists in San Francisco. It isn’t yet proven whether the city’s controversial speed cameras also save pedestrian lives. SFMTA announced that in another nine months, the agency will deliver an evaluation of the program to state officials. Data gathered in the meantime might result in certain cameras being relocated, more cameras getting installed, or both. State law dictates that money from the fines be directed to covering associated costs and building, maintaining, or expanding infrastructure. A program designed to make city streets safer may also make them better. San Francisco’s bike lanes, pedestrian crossings, bus and train stops will be maintained by drivers who threaten their safety.
