The new state "daylighting" law will help make intersections safer.
We're announcing a new plan to implement California's "daylighting" traffic safety law in San Francisco.
The state law bans parking within 20 feet of the approach side of a crosswalk. This rule helps improve visibility at intersections for both people walking and driving. The law applies to both marked and unmarked crosswalks.
Our goal is to make this change fair and easy to follow. We also want to ensure San Francisco’s streets are safer for everyone.
Our new plan is clear, fast and fair:
- No citations will be issued at unmarked (gray) curbs that are now required to be car-free by state law.
- Only zero-cost warnings—rather than fines—will be issued until we paint the curbs red.
- Painting red curbs at affected intersections will be fast-tracked and should be finished in 18 months.
- School zones will receive red curbs first.
How will the state "daylighting" law help?
Daylighting is a proven safety measure to prevent traffic crashes and save lives. Daylighting helps people walking see if it is safe to cross. They can check without stepping into the intersection or peeking around parked cars. Drivers can see the intersection with greater clarity. They can spot a person waiting to cross from a distance.
Why are we changing our enforcement plan?
As we implement this law, our highest priority is keeping people safe—not issuing citations.
Before, we planned to issue citations in March. Community members and district supervisors shared their concerns about fairness in enforcement. In response, we have adjusted our enforcement plan. We understand that people driving need clear and visible guidance to follow this new law.
Julie Kirschbaum, our acting director of transportation, shares her reasons for changing the rollout of daylighting:
"As the acting director of transportation at the SFMTA, I focus on listening to the community. Many have raised concerns about our plans for the state's daylighting law. Daylighting is a crucial tool for street safety, but I want to ensure that we implement it fairly when we roll it out citywide. I’m thankful to Supervisors Chan and Walton for urging us to find a solution that is both swift and fair."
The new enforcement plan will make things clearer for residents and visitors. When they see a curb near a crosswalk that has red paint, they will know not to park. When they receive a warning at an unmarked curb, they will understand the 'daylighting' law and our plan for it. This way, people can identify legal parking areas with clarity, and intersections have increased safety.
We'll start by painting curbs near school zones to improve safety for students.
What’s next and how to prepare
Warnings
San Franciscans can help make streets safer today by avoiding parking within 20 feet of an intersection approach. Vehicles parked at unmarked curbs within 20 feet of crosswalks will get zero-cost warnings. This approach is part of a bigger public outreach campaign. It informs drivers about state law and reminds them that the curb will soon be painted red at that spot.
Priorities
We're prioritizing safety by enhancing daylighting in school zones. Visibility is key here. Drivers at intersections may not see children in crosswalks when a parked car blocks their view. We are improving safety for students by daylighting these areas first. This helps them walk to and from school more safely. Better sightlines help those most at risk. This includes families with children, seniors, people who use wheelchairs and shorter pedestrians.
After completing our work at school zones, we will paint the other affected intersections as fast as we can.
Daylighting is already common in San Francisco particularly in busy, downtown areas and on the High Injury Network.
Tips
- Remember: the new state law bans parking within 20 feet of the approach side of a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
- If you park at a curb within 20 feet of an intersection that is unmarked (gray), you won't get a fine. However, you might receive a zero-cost warning.
- Once the city paints a curb red, standard no-parking rules and fines will apply, as they do today.
To learn more about daylighting in San Francisco, visit our daylighting webpage (SFMTA.com/Daylighting).