Los Angeles is about to get a whole lot more vigilant about lead-footed drivers. The city just rolled out California's biggest speed camera program, plastering 125 new "safety systems" across its sprawling concrete jungle.
Because apparently, LA drivers have a bit of a need for speed. A recent report found that a whopping 16% of all fatal and severe crashes between 2017 and 2021 were due to speeding. That includes a truly grim 21% of bicyclist deaths and 4% of pedestrian deaths. So, yes, the cameras are here, and they're not just for show.
The Track Record
Before you start grumbling about Big Brother, consider this: these things actually work. San Francisco saw speeding plummet by an average of 72% at 15 sites within six months of installing cameras. Philadelphia's main drag saw a 95% drop in violations. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying.
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Start Your News DetoxLos Angeles isn't just randomly sticking these things on lamp posts. They're using traffic safety data, pinpointing hot spots where speeding and crashes are most common. Many locations will even get multiple cameras, because apparently, speeders are an equal-opportunity menace.
And for those eyeing the lens nervously: privacy is supposedly a priority. The cameras only capture still images and license plate info. No facial recognition here, thank goodness. And your confidential data won't be shared with law enforcement unless a court explicitly says so. Because apparently, that's where we are now.
Nationally, speeding contributed to 29% of all traffic deaths in 2024, claiming 11,288 lives. So while the U.S. Department of Transportation recently called these cameras "unfair revenue schemes" and scaled back funding (except in school or work zones), LA is clearly opting for safety over skepticism. Your move, lead feet.
