PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2025
CONTACT: Marta Lindsey, Communications Director, Walk SF, marta@walksf.org, 617.833.7654
Advocates urge Governor Newsom to sign red light camera legislation
New report shows rising threat of dangerous intersections and red light running
San Francisco, Calif. – Among the hundreds of bills being considered by Governor Gavin Newsom is SB 720. SB 720 which would create an alternative approach for California cities to address one of the most dangerous driving behaviors: running red lights.
Meanwhile, a new report, The Hidden Cost of Red Light Running, just released by Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) details the dramatic increase in severe and fatal traffic crashes due to intersection violations including red light running in California.
San Francisco ranks the second-most dangerous county with a population larger than 750,000 for severe and fatal crashes at intersections. According to SAFE’s report, San Francisco saw 5.09 severe and fatal crashes at intersections per 100,000 people between 2021 and 2023.
SAFE’s report found that there’s been a 96.1% increase in serious injuries and fatalities due to intersection violations between 2013 and 2023 in California.
“This report confirms what many of us are witnessing: driver behavior has gotten increasingly unlawful, dangerous, and out of control,” said Marta Lindsey, communications director for Walk San Francisco. “When drivers run red lights, they threaten the safety of everyone on our streets, and this needs to stop.”
The crashes that result from red light running are likely to be severe or fatal because they are “right-angle” crashes (i.e. the victim is broadsided).
A bill passed by the California State Legislature, SB 720 (Senator Angelique Ashby, Sacramento County), would provide cities with additional approaches to addressing red light running.
SB 720 creates an alternative approach to implementing red light camera programs that mimics AB 645, the legislation passed in 2023 allowing speed cameras to be piloted in California.
Under the existing red light camera legislation (which SB 720 wouldn’t replace, but would be an alternative option to), fines are upwards of $500 and violations are criminal penalties; safety cameras take photos of license plates (not drivers), which means many citations are unenforceable because the driver can’t be identified; and revenues are not required to go towards street safety infrastructure. Overall, this leads to a program that is very financially and administratively burdensome for both parties, and can be viewed as punitive.
Under SB 720, a city’s red light camera program (should the city opt into it) would include: (1) capping fines for first-time violations at $100; (2) ticket and cite the vehicle, not the driver (making this a civil offense), by taking photos only of the license plate, and (3) mandating that revenues go directly to safe streets infrastructure. This makes it easier for cities to enforce and recoup funds, addresses privacy concerns regarding data collection and storage, eases the burden of high fines and includes scaled fines for low-income people, and ensures a more systems approach to traffic safety.
Read SB 720 and learn more at walksf.org/YesonSB720.
California already allows cities to use red light cameras under California Vehicle Code section 21455.5, but if SB 720 is passed, cities can opt into using this alternative approach.
SB 720 brings in important equity and privacy provisions to how cities can implement red light cameras, and is more efficient in how it’s structured.
Advocates including Walk SF hope that this bill will reduce barriers for cities to use more red light cameras in order to take on what’s become disturbingly common dangerous behavior.
“Red light cameras save lives and significantly reduce crashes,” said Lindsey. “We are urging Governor Newsom to give cities a more equitable and effective alternative approach to using red light cameras to make streets safer for everyone.”
The National Institutes of Health found that after the installation of red light cameras, large cities experienced a 21% reduction in fatal red light violations and a 14% decrease in other types of fatal crashes at signalized intersections.
San Francisco currently has red light cameras at 13 intersections and plans to expand the program to six more locations by next year.
“Walk SF has been pushing for more red light cameras for years,” said Lindsey. “Safety enforcement technology is urgently needed to keep the most dangerous driving behavior in check – especially as vehicles today are bigger, heavier, and more powerful than ever.”
Governor Newsom has until October 13 to sign or veto the legislation.
###
Walk San Francisco (‘Walk SF’) advocates for safe streets for everyone who walks, which is everyone. Since our founding in 1998, Walk SF has been leading the way to make San Francisco a pedestrian-first city where people of every age and ability can walk safely. Learn more.