Circulate San Diego submitted a letter of support for AB 550, which would give the cities of Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, and one additional southern California city the option of piloting speed safety systems on sensitive or dangerous local streets.

Every year, hundreds of Californians die in speed-related crashes. Speeding is a major contributor to fatalities and serious injuries in crashes­—if a driver traveling at 20 miles per hour hits a pedestrian, there is a 90 percent chance that pedestrian will survive. At 40 mph, the chance of survival drops to 20 percent. Nationwide, 112,580 people were killed in speeding-related incidents from 2005 to 2014.

Speed safety systems are an effective tool for reducing speeding, crashes, injuries and fatalities, but California law currently prohibits their use. Speed safety systems are automated systems that use cameras and radar to detect and identify speeding vehicles. These automated systems reduce the potential for racial bias in traffic enforcement. In addition, AB 550 includes clear guardrails to protect people’s privacy, including a ban on facial recognition technology. Citations under any pilot program will be civil in nature—not criminal—and will not result in a point on a driver’s record. The intent of the systems is to reduce speeding and increase safety, not to punish.

Speed safety systems can be a significant step in reducing traffic fatalities, protecting pedestrians and bicyclists, and shifting transportation mode share towards climate-friendly modes. Read the full letter here [pdf].

Circulate San Diego joined a coalition letter supporting AB 1238, the Freedom to Walk Act, which would repeal California's "jaywalking" laws by legalizing certain common and safe street crossings that currently qualify as traffic infractions. The Freedom to Walk Act does not change existing law that requires pedestrians to avoid potentially hazardous situations on the roadway.

Jaywalking laws criminalize pedestrians who make safe and logical choices in crossing the street mid-block. This discourages walking and transit use, which runs counter to California's mode shift goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, given that people of color can be disproportionately targeted for traffic stops, legalizing jaywalking also removes a potential for bias in traffic enforcement. Read the full letter here [pdf].

Check out this week's featured stories: 

1. Circulate San Diego Releases Report: “Hope for Vision Zero”

2. Hope for Vision Zero Press Conference

3. "The Dream is Possible: World Class Transit in San Diego"

4. Coalition Letter: Comments and Recommended Changes to the Proposed MUTCD Amendment

5. Circulate News

Circulate San Diego and coalition partners submitted a letter with comments and recommended changes to the Proposed MUTCD Amendment. The MUTCD is a document of federal regulations governing the design of every roadway in the United States, requiring that all traffic signs, surface markings, and signals legally conform to national standards. The current iteration bestows serious barriers for our members and the greater bicycling community.

Our Coalition partners are joining a national effort to improve road safety by calling on the Federal Highway Administration to rewrite the technical standards of roadway design. We respectfully request that the FHWA rewrite the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) in a manner that supports safe systems design, so advocates and jurisdictions alike can help build safer streets for all roadway users.

Read the full letter here [pdf].

Yesterday, Circulate San Diego released our latest report at a press conference with Mayor Todd Gloria.

Our report “Hope for Vision Zero,” details the progress the City of San Diego has made in the last five years to prevent traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

Mayor Gloria joined Circulate and other advocates to highlight the report’s release, and to recommit the City of San Diego to ending traffic deaths.

Please donate to help Circulate engage elected officials on traffic safety.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact:
Jesse O’Sullivan, Policy Counsel
(619) 301-1381 | [email protected]  

“Hope for Vision Zero” Report shows modest improvements to street safety in the City of San Diego

SAN DIEGO (May 12, 2021) – At a press conference on May 12, 2021, Circulate San Diego marked the half way point of San Diego’s Vision Zero commitment by releasing the report “Hope for Vision Zero: Five Year Update.” Circulate was joined at the press conference by Mayor Todd Gloria, Vision Zero Advocate Katie Matchett, and Vision Zero Coalition members.

Circulate’s report shows that while traffic fatalities and serious injuries were on the rise between 2013 and 2018, they declined in 2019, and again in 2020. The report contains an analysis of San Diego Police Department collision data from 2013 to 2020, and is available at http://www.circulatesd.org/hopeforvisionzero.

MEDIA ADVISORY  – May 11, 2021

Contact: Jesse O’Sullivan, Policy Counsel
619-301-1381 | [email protected]

Press Conference with Mayor Todd Gloria and Circulate to Release
New Report on Success of San Diego’s Vision Zero Traffic Safety Efforts

On May 12, nonprofit think tank Circulate San Diego will host a press conference with Mayor Todd Gloria at the corner of Washington Street and Goldfinch Street in Mission Hills to release its newest report “Hope for Vision Zero.”

When: Wednesday, May 12, 8:30 am

Where: Northeast corner of Washington St. and Goldfinch St. in Mission Hills

Who:

• Mayor Todd Gloria, City of San Diego
• Colin Parent, Executive Director and General Counsel, Circulate San Diego
• Jesse O’Sullivan, Policy Counsel, Circulate San Diego
• Katie Matchett, Vision Zero Advocate

What: The City of San Diego adopted its Vision Zero commitment in 2015, pledging to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2025. Circulate San Diego’s new report, “Hope for Vision Zero” contains an account of the progress towards Vision Zero at the half-way point of the City of San Diego’s 10-year goal. 

“Hope for Vision Zero” contains data on traffic fatalities and serious injuries from 2013 through 2020 in the City of San Diego. The data shows that while traffic fatalities and serious injuries rose between 2013 and 2018, they declined in 2019 and again in 2020.

This report is includes data collected form the San Diego Police Department detailing the frequency, location, and severity of traffic crashes.

Visuals include background of streets with traffic calming improvements such as recently installed traffic safety displays and high visibility crosswalks. Copies of Circulate’s report will be made available at the press conference.

About Circulate San Diego

Circulate San Diego is a regional nonprofit think tank dedicated to advancing mobility and making the region a better place to move, work, learn and play. Our work focuses on creating great mobility choices, more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, and land uses that promote sustainable growth. For more information, go to www.circulatesd.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact:
Colin Parent, Executive Director and General Counsel
(619) 567-6856 | [email protected]

Press Release: Pedestrian Killed in Hit and Run in Del Mar Heights

SAN DIEGO (May 5, 2021) – A pedestrian was killed when he was struck by a driver on April 9, 2021 in the Del Mar Heights neighborhood of the City of San Diego. According to the San Diego Police Department’s Watch Commander’s Log, at around 2:00 p.m., a man in his 70s was crossing Del Mar Heights Road when he was struck and killed by a driver. The driver then fled the scene.

Check out this week's featured stories: 

1. Check out our Mobility Monday webinar series!

2. Explore The Shore – Last Day on April 30^th!

3. Temporary Educational Signs Installed to Demonstrate Vision Zero in Action!

4. New Memo on Reform for Parking Districts

5. Circulate News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact:
Danielle Berger, Director of Planning
(619) 508-9188 | [email protected]

Temporary Signage to Educate Residents about Vision Zero Infrastructure Improvements

SAN DIEGO (April 23, 2021) – Today Circulate San Diego, in partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety and City of San Diego, installed temporary educational signage at improved walking and bicycling infrastructure in the City of San Diego.

The infrastructure featured in this program are infrastructures installed as part of the City’s Vision Zero efforts. Vision Zero is the City’s commitment to end traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2025.