Bay-area officials and families push state bill for automated speed enforcement as part of Vision Zero

Assemblymember David Chu (transcribed as "Chu/Chiu") announced AB 342, the "Safe Streets Act of 2017," proposing a five-year pilot to allow automated speed enforcement (ASE) in San Francisco and San Jose on streets with documented crash histories. Chu said ASE targets drivers exceeding posted limits by more than 10 mph on collision-prone corridors and framed it as part of the Vision Zero toolkit to reduce pedestrian and cyclist fatalities.

Mayor Edwin Lee spoke in support and stressed the public-health and cost impacts of traffic injuries at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Mayor Sam Liccardo of San Jose joined in support and emphasized regional collaboration. Families of victims and advocates from Families for Safe Streets recounted fatal and life-changing collisions and urged lawmakers to pass the bill. Chief William Scott said SFPD supports ASE as an additional tool to change driver behavior and lower speeds.

Health professionals and trauma surgeons cited strong evidence that policy to slow vehicle speeds reduces fatalities and severe injuries; a doctor from Zuckerberg San Francisco General said trauma services see thousands of traffic-injury patients yearly and called ASE a public-health intervention. SFMTA leaders said the agency would administer ASE if authorized and has been planning implementation details with safety equity and due process concerns in mind.

Ending: Officials urged rapid action at the state level to enable ASE pilots in 2017; the measure was presented to local officials and advocates as a priority in the broader Vision Zero effort.