In a move that has drawn praise from safety advocates, San Francisco has taken decisive action to address the pressing issue of pedestrian deaths. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) recently announced the selection of a contractor to implement and manage a speed enforcement system program for the city. This proactive step stands out among the inaction of Los Angeles and other pilot cities, despite rising concerns over traffic fatalities.
The disparity between San Francisco’s approach and that of Los Angeles is striking. While San Francisco moves swiftly to implement life-saving measures, Los Angeles faces criticism for its perceived lack of urgency in addressing the issue. Damian Kevitt, Executive Director of Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE), commended San Francisco’s efforts, stating “While Los Angeles continues to ignore the problem, San Francisco takes speeding seriously. I commend San Francisco for taking this significant step towards making its citizens safer.” Kevitt didn’t mince words when addressing the situation in Los Angeles: “Los Angeles and the other pilot cities have no excuse for bureaucratic feet-dragging that is risking people’s lives.”
Alarming data highlights the critical nature of this issue. Los Angeles reported 336 traffic fatalities in 2023, the highest in almost 50 years, with traffic deaths surpassing homicides in the same year. The problem extends beyond Los Angeles, as across California, 35% of fatalities are speeding-related, with over 1,500 speeding-related fatalities occurring in the state in 2021. These figures serve as a stark reminder of the pressing need to enhance street safety measures across all California cities.
San Francisco’s approach to addressing the issue has been comprehensive and thoughtful. Their request for proposal emphasized several key factors, including experience in implementing speed enforcement programs, commitment to equitable implementation, community involvement, and extensive public outreach. The contract was ultimately awarded to Verra Mobility, a company known for managing some of the largest speed safety programs in the United States, including New York City’s successful initiative.
The actions taken by San Francisco are part of a broader legislative framework. Assembly Bill 645, passed in 2023 and enacted in January 2024, authorizes six California cities to pilot camera systems for speed enforcement: San Francisco, Glendale, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Jose. Among these, San Francisco has emerged as the frontrunner, being the first to complete its request-for-proposal (RFP) process and select a vendor.
As San Francisco moves ahead with its plans to enhance pedestrian safety, all eyes are on Los Angeles and the other pilot cities. The question remains: Will they follow San Francisco’s lead and take concrete steps to address the rising number of traffic-related fatalities? Safety
advocates like SAFE hope to reduce the number of deaths to zero and improve the quality of life for all road users – pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers.