Los Angeles is on a mission to make its streets safer with the ultimate goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2025. The city deserves applause for implementing safety programs such as the Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s Vision Zero, but the jury is still out as to whether it and other programs actually are working.
The city council readily admits that Los Angeles is not on track to achieve this bold goal, more than seven years after launching Vision Zero. Actually, Los Angeles streets seem to have become deadlier, namely for pedestrians.
Vision Zero’s goal to eliminate fatalities
Los Angeles has invested millions of dollars in improving traffic signals and intersections, creating safer crosswalks, increasing protection for bike lanes and cracking down on speeders. And a great amount of that focus has been on creating safer streets for schoolchildren and seniors.
At the forefront is Vision Zero and its goal to eliminate traffic fatalities by redesigning roads to force people to drive slower and be more aware of others – such as pedestrians and bicyclists.
However, some safety advocates contend that the program just is not working. Statistics support this argument.
More died on LA streets in 2021
In 2021 in Los Angeles, 289 people died in traffic deaths, representing a 22% increase from the previous year. Also, nearly 1,500 sustained serious injuries in the city, a number that is 30% higher than in 2020.
And startlingly, more than half of the fatalities came from people who were not riding in vehicles. In 2021, a total of 132 pedestrians and 17 bicyclists died on Los Angeles roads.
Remaining alert may save your life
Whether the problem at city hall is a lack of funding or a lack of political insight, we understand that there is no lack of awareness. Whether a car driver, passenger, motorcyclist, bicyclist or pedestrian, please remain alert and vigilant when traveling or crossing city roads. It just may save your life.