No state has more pedestrian deaths than California. According to our Office of Traffic Safety, it's 25% higher than the national average. Thousands more are injured annually. Speed is often a contributing factor.

In San Francisco, eight pedestrians have already been killed this year. If that pace continues, we will surpass the fatality rate set in 2022 when the highest number of deaths were recorded over a five-year period.

But a speed camera pilot program that I championed with Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Burbank) last year under AB 645 aims to make our streets safer, especially around school zones. San Francisco is among the six cities testing the technology to slow drivers down and save lives.

We're now a major step closer towards implementation with 33 cameras proposed to be deployed within what's called the High Injury Network, the 12% of San Francisco streets that account for more than 68% of traffic-related severe injuries or fatalities. A dozen of those speed cameras are slated to be installed in our Assembly district encompassing the City's westside, pending public input and final approval. To weigh in, you can attend the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority's 1 p.m. meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, April 16, when the Board will vote on finalizing the speed camera locations.

Automatic speed enforcement holds some promise. It helped New York City mark its safest year for pedestrians in 2023. My hope is the new speed cameras will have the same impact on San Francisco. After the data is studied and the results show a significant impact, lawmakers can consider expanding speed cameras to other parts of the state, including San Mateo County, which also ranks among the deadliest for pedestrians.

PHIL TING
Assemblymember, 19th District