Authorities say this program is already making a positive impact and bringing speeds down
- San Francisco launched 33 speed cameras that now issue real tickets for violations.
- During the trial phase, cameras issued 350,000 warnings and cut speeding by 30%.
- Citations start at $50 for drivers going 11 mph or more over the speed limit.
Drivers in San Francisco now have 33 new reasons to ease off the gas pedal. The city has activated speed cameras across multiple neighborhoods, and they’re not just for show, as real citations are being issued. The move comes as part of an effort to increase safety in the city, and after a two-month trial period. In those few weeks, the city issued over 350,000 warnings via the speed cameras.
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These are the very first speed cameras in California. Drivers caught going 11 mph (18 km/h) over the limit will receive a $50 ticket. Going 16 mph (26 km/h) over the limit results in a $100 fine. Anyone exceeding the limit by 26 mph (42 km/h) will be fined $200, and drivers hitting triple-digit speeds at 100 mph (161 km/h) or more can expect a $500 ticket in the mail.
Adjusted fines are available for low-income drivers, with the option to complete community service instead of paying the ticket.
A Safer City for Everyone
“Whether you walk, bike, take Muni, or drive, you should be able to get where you’re going safely in San Francisco,” said Mayor Lurie. “Speed cameras are proven to help keep people safe on the streets, and we are already seeing positive results from the warning period: Cameras are issuing fewer notices, and drivers are going at safer speeds. As our kids go back to school and more people continue to go into the office, we’re using this new technology to make our streets safer for our kids, our seniors, and our entire community.”
The city really has done just about everything possible to help citizens avoid tickets, short of not putting the cameras up in the first place. Beyond the trial period, the city has a map showing each and every location where a camera sits. On top of that, it has an interactive map online where anyone can view map data, future camera sites, and more.
Drivers Are Slowing Down
So far, it appears as if the camera system is indeed slowing drivers down. Over 70 percent of the drivers who picked up one speeding warning didn’t get a second one. Across all camera locations, speeding events dropped by more than 30 percent between the first and last week of the trial period. And high-volume corridors are seeing big shifts in speed; 40 percent down in one and 63 percent down in another.
Several other states with speed cameras have seen huge booms in revenue thanks to them. In some places, drivers with exceptionally bad records seem to avoid paying tickets altogether, though without losing the freedom to drive.
According to the SF Chronicle, some of the cameras caught over 850 speeders a day at times during the trial period.