Supervisors unanimously declare a state of emergency for traffic safety
Last Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution declaring a state of emergency for traffic safety in San Francisco.
I applaud the entire Board of Supervisors for recognizing the very real public health crisis happening on our streets in terms of traffic safety.
The language in the resolution is strong, and makes clear that the safety of people walking and biking must be prioritized over flow of traffic.
It includes two top priorities of our new Slow Our Streets campaign: increasing the SF Police Department’s enforcement of dangerous driving behavior, especially speeding, and moving forward solutions to bring down average speeds on the most dangerous streets. It also includes a directive to double red light enforcement cameras, which we have been pushing hard for. (Read the full resolution.)
Together with Supervisor Matt Haney and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, we began calling for a state of emergency in July in the wake of some horrific fatal traffic crashes combined with an alarming rise in overall pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities.
Now, in the past two weeks, two people walking have been hit and killed: a 69-year-old woman, Pilsoo Seong, hit at South Van Ness and 19th Street on October 31; and a 77-year-old man, Jesus Ocampo, who was hit at 16th Street and De Haro on November 2.
We all agree that devastating traffic violence needs to end. It’s time for unprecedented levels of action to save lives, and there’s no time to waste.
Walk San Francisco intends to hold all city leaders accountable to taking real action. And we will not stop demanding more fundamental changes to our streets – and for these to happen faster – until everyone, of every age and ability, can get around safely.
Read more about the resolution declaring a state of emergency for traffic safety:
- SF declares state of emergency for traffic deaths. Can it save pedestrians? – Hoodline
- Supes declare ‘emergency’ as traffic-related deaths increase – San Francisco Examiner
