How California Cities Can Save Lives with AB 645
A New Era of Speed Safety Cameras Is Rolling Out—And It’s Already Saving Lives
California is finally getting serious about making our streets safer. Assembly Bill (AB) 645, a groundbreaking law sponsored by SAFE and passed in 2023, identified six cities to launch a pilot speed safety program in school zones and on dangerous stretches of road where far too many people have been injured or killed. The participating cities are Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, Long Beach, and the City and County of San Francisco.
Later, Senate Bill 1297 allowed speed safety cameras along the deadly PCH within Malibu city limits as a way to reduce speeding and fatalities on the PCH.
When cities implement speed safety programs under AB 645, they create a powerful cycle of safety that sets this model apart: every camera that catches a speeding vehicle must reinvest the funds it generates directly back into improving safety in that same community. Every dollar is earmarked for upgrades like better crosswalks, clearer signage, protected bike lanes, and traffic safety education programs.
This creates a double impact:
the cameras immediately slow drivers down in the places that need it most,
while also funding the long-term safety infrastructure these neighborhoods have been waiting for.
Looking at results from cities nationwide that already use similar programs, we see both significant changes in driver behavior and millions of dollars invested in safer streets.
San Francisco, the first California city to launch the program, is already seeing results. In just its first month of issuing warnings, cameras captured over 31,000 speeding violations, despite only 13 of the planned 33 cameras being active at that time. Data shows that 77% of those violations were drivers going 11–15 mph over the speed limit. The city is responding quickly by installing new speed limit signs and pavement markings at high-violation areas, such as Fulton Street.
Oakland is next in line. On June 17, the City Council voted to award a contract for their own speed camera program, with cameras expected to be operational before the end of 2025. This will add another major California city to the growing list of communities using this life-saving technology.
Outside of California, cities like Philadelphia and Seattle show how effective these programs can be. In Philadelphia, 79 cameras have helped fund five major safety projects—including speed cushions, intersection redesigns, and transit enhancements along Roosevelt Boulevard. The impact is striking: a 95% reduction in speeding violations and a 50% drop in pedestrian crashes. In Seattle, where cameras are focused on school zones, collisions during school hours have dropped 71%. Thanks to new legislation, most of Seattle’s camera revenue now goes toward building sidewalks and safer crossings, not into the general fund.
Why This Matters Now
To put it bluntly: speed kills. It’s the leading factor in deadly crashes, and we’ve all seen what happens when someone drives too fast through a school zone or down a busy street where people are walking and biking. AB 645 gives cities a powerful new tool to get drivers to slow down, making communities safer for everyone.
There’s another important benefit: unlike traditional traffic stops, cameras don’t have bias. They catch everyone who’s speeding, regardless of what they look like or what kind of car they’re driving. When cities are transparent about how these programs are used and take community concerns seriously, everyone wins.
Why We're Behind This
At SAFE, we’ve championed AB 645 for years because we know it will prevent crashes and save lives—and that’s what truly matters. This legislation also gives pilot cities the tools they need to finally implement the road safety solutions their communities have long been calling for. When we prioritize safer streets and eliminating traffic deaths, we lay the groundwork for healthier, more vibrant communities.
Cities across the country have already proven that this approach works. Now, California cities have the opportunity to join them—to make their streets safer and save more lives.
What About Southern California?
In Southern California, the City of Glendale is stepping up its efforts to implement speed safety cameras under AB 645. City staff have already brought forward a draft implementation plan, and community engagement is underway to ensure the program meets local needs. Glendale understands the urgency—too many lives have been lost on its streets, and the city is taking the necessary steps to launch this life-saving program.
Unfortunately, the same can’t yet be said for Los Angeles or Long Beach.
Despite being included in the AB 645 pilot, neither city has made public progress toward implementation. That means no draft plans, no timelines, and no visible movement toward activating a tool that could begin saving lives immediately. In cities where traffic violence disproportionately affects low-income communities and communities of color, this delay is not just disappointing—it’s dangerous.
Southern California should be at the forefront of street safety. It’s time for Los Angeles and Long Beach to prioritize their AB 645 programs, engage their communities, and move forward. The longer they wait, the more lives are at risk—and the more opportunities are lost to build the safer, more equitable streets their residents deserve.
How Can You Help?
Community members in Long Beach have drafted a letter urging city officials to prioritize the implementation of speed safety cameras to save lives. If you live in, work in, or regularly visit the City of Long Beach, you—or your organization—can sign on in support using this form: Long Beach Speed Camera Support Letter.
If you want to help accelerate the implementation of speed safety cameras in Long Beach or Los Angeles, we want to hear from you. Please email Brett Slaughenhaupt, Director of LA County Advocacy, at Brett@StreetsAreForEveryone.org.
With lives on the line, the time is now—and the need is urgent.