San Francisco’s new speed camera program, the first of its kind in California, has led to a sharp drop in dangerous driving, according to new city data.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency reported speeding has decreased by an average of 72% at 15 camera locations.

From June through August, citations and average violation speeds continued to decline, with two-thirds of drivers who received a warning or ticket not reoffending.

“Speed cameras are doing exactly what we hoped they would: changing driver behavior,” said Marta Lindsey, communications director for Walk San Francisco.

A graphic shows the relationship between speed and pedestrian fatalities in a collision. A study by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency found that speeding decreased by an average of 72% at 15 locations around the city where speed cameras have been installed. (SFMTA)

The program was authorized by AB 645 in 2023, with San Francisco leading implementation ahead of Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale and Long Beach.

Advocates, including victims’ families, say the data underscores the need for expanding speed cameras as speeding remains the top cause of severe and fatal crashes in the city.