More than a dozen people have been killed by cars so far this year on Sacramento streets, and on Tuesday night, the city council debated what can be done to reduce future fatalities.<\/p>\n
It’s an effort that some traffic safety advocates say is greatly needed.<\/p>\n
Sherry Martinez has an eye for traffic concerns, especially after a driver hit her on her bike in 2023, leaving her seriously injured.<\/p>\n
“I had four broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a concussion,” she said.<\/p>\n
Now, Martinez is a traffic safety advocate, calling on Sacramento city leaders to reduce the number of dangerous roadways.<\/p>\n
This year got off to a deadly start, with six people killed by cars in just the first two weeks.<\/p>\n
In every case, those crashes happened on what the city calls “high injury network” roadways.<\/p>\n
“The city of Sacramento has the highest traffic fatality rate per capita in California,” said Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Sacramento’s mobility and sustainability manager.<\/p>\n
Research shows 79% of all vehicle crashes happen on just 14% of the city’s streets.<\/p>\n
“We look at the data and telling us what happened on those corridors because we can’t make improvements if we don’t understand what the problem is,” Donlon Wyant said.<\/p>\n
The city is making efforts to improve safety, like along Marysville Boulevard, where crews are building new crosswalks and bike lanes.<\/p>\n
“It absolutely can be done,” Donlon Wyant said. “It’s just expensive, and it takes time.”<\/p>\n
New state law allows cities to consider other factors when prioritizing street safety improvements, such as whether they’re used often by kids and older adults or in disadvantaged communities.<\/p>\n
“I think we should prioritize those locations,” City Councilmember Caity Maple said. “I think it’s the right thing to do, and I think it’s overdue.”<\/p>\n
The city plans on going after grant money to help pay for roadway improvements, but the overall cost is estimated to be more than $6 billion, a concerning price tag to many who don’t feel safe walking and biking on some streets.<\/p>\n
“Change just needs to happen, and it needs to happen yesterday,” Martinez said.<\/p>\n
Traffic safety officials have been holding a series of community workshops this year, and their goal is to have an official action plan in place by the end of the year.<\/p>\n