• 13
  • October
    2010

Pedestrian safety is a major problem in San Francisco. Even in a city this large, walkers know where to find the most dangerous road crossings. Each district has notorious intersections where people have been killed or seriously injured after being hit by a vehicle. The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) recently received a $300,000 grant to study the issue in greater detail. By examining the causes of the problem, the city hopes to not only eliminate pedestrian accidents, but also save millions of dollars in medical treatment for victims.

How Bad Is It?

According to the SFPD, 17 pedestrians were killed in accidents in 2009, and so far, six people have died in 2010. San Francisco ranks first in California for pedestrian deaths, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the city is the fourth most deadly city in the U.S. for pedestrians. The Mission District is perhaps the most dangerous area in the city, leading the way with nine pedestrian deaths from 2004-2008.

While these numbers are alarming, it only tells part of the story. A study by Dr. Rochelle Dicker, director of the Injury Center at San Francisco General Hospital, examined pedestrian collisions from 2004 to 2008. During that four year period, 3,598 pedestrians were injured in San Francisco. These injuries cost the city nearly $130 million in medical care, which has hurt the cash-strapped city.

Fixing the Problem

In addition to the grants awarded to the city, police have initiated several campaigns to cut down on the number of accidents. Much of the focus has been on the actions of drivers that were most likely to be unsafe for pedestrians. Police went to several locations throughout the city, including the Mission district, during busy parts of the day to monitor driver behavior. Drivers that were speeding, failing to yield, running stop signs or stop lights would receive citations.

The city has also used additional safety features to help pedestrians. Four-lane roads have been reconfigured as two-lane roads. Pedestrian islands have been added to roads with more lanes of traffic. Signals have been made more visible for both drivers and pedestrians, and countdown lights have been added to some crosswalks. Police also encourage pedestrians to be alert when crossing the street. Following traffic signals on busy roadways can prevent you from becoming another grim statistic.