In 2023, CalBike supported AB 645, which created a pilot program for six cities to install cameras for automated speed enforcement. San Francisco is the first to have its cameras fully installed and up and running, and the program is yielding a trove of data. The biggest takeaway will come as no surprise to people who bike and walk: a lot of drivers speed.

Useful data

San Francisco started installing its 50 speed cameras in March and completed installation in early June. The San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will issue warnings until August 6, 2025, when it will start sending tickets for violations. 

San Francisco has created a dashboard where the public can access data about the program. As of July 8, SFMTA has issued almost 132,000 warnings to people driving 11 mph or more over the posted speed limit, showing how widespread speeding is in the city.

Almost one-third of the speeders were clocked at just two intersections: eastbound and westbound at 2530 Fulton Street next to Golden Gate Park, between Arguello and 2nd Avenue, and northbound at 511 Bryant Street near 3rd Street (Bryant is one-way). More than 28,000 warnings were issued at the Fulton Street location and over 14,000 on Bryant Street. 

Next steps for automated speed enforcement

San Jose is hoping to get speed cameras installed this summer to go live by fall, and Oakland plans to have cameras online by this winter. Glendale is aiming for late 2025, and Los Angeles plans to launch its program in 2026; there’s no start date for automated speed enforcement in Long Beach yet. If all these cities share data from their speed cameras with the public, it will provide valuable insights into driver behavior at the most dangerous intersections.

Tickets under the pilot program start at $50 and go as high as $500, but low-income drivers pay reduced fees. Given the prevalence of speeding found in San Francisco, the program could be a significant source of revenue once cities start issuing tickets. But hopefully, those numbers will go down as drivers become aware of the program. Gathering consistent data on how many people speed can reveal spots that put vulnerable road users at risk, beyond crash data. That can show where additional signage or infrastructure for traffic calming might be needed and provide a roadmap for future infrastructure improvements to make California streets safer.