The SFMTA released San Francisco’s Speed Study 18-Month Report on Oct. 15, 2026.
It’s been 18 months since the SFMTA launched the Speed Safety Camera Program. And our data shows that speeding is down substantially at locations where cameras have been installed.
• Excessive speeding is down 84% across camera locations.
• That translates to more than 42,000 fewer instances of speeding every day.
Our analysis is supported by an independent study by UC Berkeley. Cal researchers also found that the program reduced speeding in San Francisco.
The Speed Safety Camera program has made a difference at the intersection of Geary Boulevard and Fillmore Street (shown here). Speeding in the area has decreased by more than 50% since a camera was installed nearby.
Our goals
We published San Francisco’s Speed Safety Camera Program’s 18-Month Report on Oct. 15. This report is part of our commitment to share program results with the public. We are using it to:
• Understand the Speed Safety Camera Program’s effectiveness
• Measure whether the program is achieving its safety goals
• Inform future decisions about camera operations and program improvements in San Francisco
Excessive speeding is down significantly across camera locations. And most drivers who receive a violation are not getting a second or third one.
Our findings
Speed is the leading cause of severe traffic injuries and death on San Francisco’s streets. Our Speed Safety Camera Program is reducing speed and changing driver behavior.
We activated the first speed enforcement cameras in March of 2025. Since then:
• Speeding has decreased. Speeding 10 mph or more above the posted speed limit is down 84% across camera locations. That represents more than 42,000 fewer instances of speeding every day.
• Drivers are getting the message. After receiving one violation notice, 63% of recipients have not received a second. And about 80% have received two or fewer.
• We’re satisfying state requirements. All 33 camera locations met at least one state-required performance measure. For example, the state requires at least a 20% reduction in excessive speeding at each camera location. These performance metrics are outlined in California Assembly Bill 645. That’s the law that authorized San Francisco and five other cities to implement ASE programs.
These results show that our program is helping create safer streets and more predictable driving patterns. And it’s hitting lawmakers’ benchmarks.
Speeding at the intersection of Fulton Street and Arguello Boulevard is down. Speeding there has also decreased by more than 50% since our Speed Safety Camera program began.
Independent research
Our findings are not the only evidence that the Speed Safety Camera Program is working.
UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) studied the program. Their preliminary research lines up with our data.
According to SafeTREC, speeding has dropped significantly in San Francisco over the past 18 months. Their analysis includes the following key findings:
• Public awareness and warnings. Speeds started decreasing when we began issuing warnings. They continued dropping through the 60-day warning period from March-May 2025.
• Declines in speeding near camera locations. Speeding at camera locations declined at a quicker rate than at comparable locations without cameras. The decline at camera locations was also more substantial.
• Safer driving speeds. Excess speeding remains significantly below baseline levels 40-50 weeks after activation of cameras.
• Improved traffic conditions for all. Drivers are travelling at lower and more consistent speeds. This creates more predictable street conditions for everyone.
• Benefits beyond the camera locations. Speeding declined most significantly in areas where speeds were higher before the cameras were turned on. But speeding also declined at comparison sites. This suggests that the program may be contributing to a citywide behavior shift.
Independent evaluation helps us understand whether a public safety program is working. It helps people trust our data.
The road ahead
The goal of our Speed Safety Camera Program has always been to improve safety on San Francisco’s streets. We’re not trying to make money. All revenue from citations will go back into the program or to fund other street safety projects.
San Francisco was the first city in California to launch an Automated Speed Enforcement program. And we want to help other cities make their streets safer.
We hope that the data collected in this 18-month report will:
• Help local and state officials make decisions about the future of Automated Speed Enforcement
• Help other cities implement Speed Safety Camera programs
• Help the public understand how Automated Speed Enforcement can make communities safer
You can learn more about our Speed Safety Camera Program at our project webpage (SFMTA.com/SpeedCameras).
And you can find the 18-month report here.
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