New speed camera data shows drivers slowing down but also scale of the problem

New data was released from San Francisco’s speed camera program last week, and it’s good and bad news. 

First, the good news. Speed camera citation data and speed surveys that the SFMTA did at 15 camera locations show speed cameras are doing exactly what we hoped they would: significantly changing driver behavior. With speeding as the #1 cause of severe and fatal crashes in San Francisco, this translates directly to fewer tragedies on our streets.

Speeding has decreased by 72% on average across 15 speed camera locations where the SFMTA did before-and-after speed surveys. From June through August, violations have continued to drop, as well as the average speed for an issued violation. Two-thirds of vehicles that received a warning or citation have not received a second.

The bad news is that the citation data show just how fast many drivers are going. An analysis by the San Francisco Chronicle found that about half of the drivers whose vehicles were cited in August were going between 16 and 20 miles an hour over the speed limit.

Those are really dangerous speeds. By 40 MPH, about 75% of pedestrians will suffer a life-threatening injury or die if hit. And this likely underestimates risk because the studies this is based on do not take into account how much larger and heavier vehicles are today. 

When I think about how this data translates to all streets in San Francisco, it affirms what we’ve already been feeling, but it’s still so scary.

That’s why we’re pushing so hard for City leaders to act quickly to implement the new Street Safety Act (join us!). It includes important commitments related to addressing dangerous speeding, including:

• Reforming the Residential Traffic Calming Program so it takes a proactive, neighborhood-scale approach to adding speed humps, tables, and more to bring down speeds on smaller streets.
• Continue harnessing the ‘Quick Build’ program to better protect pedestrians in crosswalks, expand the Bike & Roll network, and design streets that keep drivers going at safe speeds.   
• Requiring the SFPD to develop a traffic enforcement plan that complements the speed camera program. 

And yes, we’re going to need more speed cameras in San Francisco. As soon as feasible, Walk SF will pursue state legislation to allow cameras at more than 33 locations. If you’re already excited about this, support our Slow Our Streets campaign with a donation to Walk SF today.