PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2025
CONTACT: Jodie Medeiros, Executive Director, Walk San Francisco, (415) 596-1580 (cell), jodie@walksf.org; Marta Lindsey, Communications Director, Walk San Francisco, (617) 833-7654 (cell), marta@walksf.org
New report shows economic cost of traffic crashes in San Francisco; meanwhile, City still has no Vision Zero policy
San Francisco, Calif. – Today, the City’s Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office released a new report on the cost of traffic crashes to San Francisco.
The report from the Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office shows that more than $2.5 billion was spent in just the past five years. This includes the costs of property damage; medical, workplace, and insurance costs; emergency response; congestion; and market and household productivity.
“We don’t need more tragedies or reasons for the City to redouble its efforts on Vision Zero,” said Walk San Francisco’s executive director Jodie Medeiros. “Dangerous streets affect all of us, every day, and should be a priority for our City’s leaders.”
“Too many people are paying the ultimate price for unsafe streets. 42 people died in traffic crashes last year, the highest number in a decade,” said Medeiros. “That should already make traffic safety a top priority for all City leaders, but if it’s not, this report certainly supports the case.”
“When streets are designed and enforced to prioritize safety, we benefit in so many ways beyond just safety,” said Medeiros. “San Francisco will be a stronger city when our streets are safe, with thriving neighborhoods and more connected communities.”
“Right now, San Francisco has no Vision Zero policy or plan in place,” said Medeiros. “With each day, this is costing us in terms of human lives – and as this report shows, a lot of money.”
In 2014, the City of San Francisco adopted Vision Zero. Vision Zero is a data-driven, preventative, and interagency approach and commitment to end severe and fatal traffic crashes.
While the City has made important progress in redesigning streets to improve safety in support of Vision Zero, severe and fatal crash numbers have yet to go down.
The past decade has also brought additional and significant challenges: increased traffic from delivery trucks and rideshare services; larger, heavier, and more powerful vehicles; and a rise in dangerous and aggressive driving behaviors.
San Francisco currently has no Vision Zero policy or plan in place. The City’s Vision Zero policy expired last year, and the last interagency action plan for Vision Zero is from 2021.
Walk SF is asking City leaders to act quickly to adopt a new VIsion Zero policy and aggressive action plan focused on reducing dangerous speeds, the #1 cause of severe and fatal crashes in San Francisco. Learn more.
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Walk San Francisco (‘Walk SF’) advocates for safe streets for everyone who walks, which is everyone. Since our founding in 1998, Walk SF has been leading the way to make San Francisco a pedestrian-first city where people of every age and ability can walk safely. Learn more.