SF Adds Speed Cameras to Protect School Zones

Six California cities deploy automated speed cameras near schools under pilot program through 2030

California Cities Add Speed Cameras Near Schools

Six California cities are installing automated speed cameras near schools and high-injury corridors under a state pilot program, transit officials said. The cameras will monitor speeds in areas where crashes have caused deaths or serious injuries, though specific installation dates for each city weren't available by publication time. Cities participating include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Glendale, and Long Beach.

The speed camera program stems from AB 645, signed into law in September 2022. The legislation authorizes local governments to deploy automated enforcement in school zones and corridors with documented safety concerns, according to the state law. Officials said the pilot program runs through 2030, allowing cities to test whether cameras reduce speeding and crashes. Specific details about how many cameras each city will install weren't disclosed.

State law restricts where cities can place the cameras, limiting them to school zones and streets with histories of fatal or severe injury crashes. Officials said cameras must be installed in areas where speeding has been documented as a safety concern. The exact number of cameras planned across all six cities wasn't available, and officials haven't said which specific streets or intersections will receive enforcement equipment. Cities typically must provide advance notice before activating speed cameras, though specific notification timelines for this program weren't provided.

The pilot program began in 2024, officials said, though specific activation dates for cameras in each participating city weren't available. Cities are implementing the program on different timelines based on local planning and equipment installation schedules. Officials haven't announced when all cameras will be operational or how long the installation process will take across the six jurisdictions.

Drivers in participating cities should watch for posted notices about camera locations before enforcement begins. Officials said the cameras target areas with documented safety problems, particularly near schools where children cross streets. Specific citation amounts and enforcement procedures weren't disclosed. Moovit provides real-time traffic updates and route information for transit riders navigating California's urban areas.