Golden Gate Bridge Toll Booths Witness Record 45 Crashes Through October 2025

San Francisco – The Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza has experienced a significant surge in vehicle collisions, with a record 45 drivers crashing into the southbound toll booths through October of this year. This marks the highest number of such incidents since 2018, according to traffic data reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle. The increase comes despite the booths having been empty and non-operational for toll collection since 2013, a fact highlighted by KCRA 3, which stated, "They've been empty since 2013, but a record amount of drivers are crashing into the Golden Gate Bridge toll booths."

The toll booths ceased manned operations in March 2013, transitioning to an all-electronic tolling system where tolls are collected via electronic scanners. While no longer requiring drivers to stop, the physical structures remain in place, serving to funnel traffic and house the electronic equipment. This setup, however, can pose a hazard when drivers navigate through them at higher speeds.

Bridge officials are investigating the exact causes for the spike but largely attribute it to increased driver distraction. Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz, spokesperson for the Golden Gate Bridge Transportation Authority, explained, "One of the main issues we see with drivers driving through the toll plaza is inattentiveness and distraction. People on their phones, fumbling with their transponders and distracted in other ways, and that can lead to collisions with the attenuators."

Unlike other Bay Area bridges, which are managed by the Bay Area Toll Authority and are planning to remove their disused toll booths, the Golden Gate Bridge operates independently and has no immediate plans for removal. The authority is currently focused on adding a separate arch to enhance electronic payment collection. Cosulich-Schwartz noted that "After that project is completed, we can embark on a project to look more deeply and in more detail at a modernization of the toll booth," potentially including their removal.

In the interim, authorities are urging motorists to exercise caution when approaching the iconic span. "Slow down, pay attention to where you are going," Cosulich-Schwartz advised drivers. He emphasized the importance of focusing while navigating the toll plaza, where numerous signs indicate the speed limit.