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2020 was a year that many Californians will not forget. During this period, individuals and families across the state experienced significant financial strain. Job losses, reduced work hours, and business closures caused many households to face serious economic challenges.
As the year went on, financial pressures intensified for countless families throughout the Golden State. Still, there were developments that offered hope. New jobs began returning to the economy, giving many households a path toward long-term stability. California has continued to rebuild and gradually return to regular day-to-day activity.
With these changes came important lessons. Researchers continue to examine data from this period, and some findings are already clear. Car crashes remained a serious public safety concern, even as attention focused on other urgent issues. Traffic data from 2020 revealed several trends in collision and fatality rates across the state.
Understanding this information can help public officials make informed decisions about roadway safety. It also helps you, as a driver, pedestrian, or cyclist, make choices that reduce your risk of being involved in a crash.
In this article, Arash Law is taking a closer look at car crash statistics in the Bay Area in 2020 to help you understand the risks that you and your loved ones face on the road. After any Bay Area auto accident, consider calling us for a free initial consultation with our California car accident lawyers.
The Facts About San Francisco
San Francisco County has nearly one million residents. The United States Census Bureau reports a population of 881,549 as of July 1, 2019. According to Data USA, many of these San Francisco residents use public transit to get to work, with an average commute time of 30.9 minutes.
This reduced car use makes a difference in fatality rates: Vital Signs reports that San Francisco has made notable reductions in traffic fatalities as a result of its Vision Zero initiative. However, the high use of public transportation does not mean that accidents don’t happen in the Bay Area.
Vital Signs also reports a 43 percent increase in San Francisco road fatalities between 2010 and 2016. Of these victims, many are bicyclists or pedestrians. This fact shows how much work there is to do to keep the roads of San Francisco safe for everyone.
You might think that accidents often occur when it is dark or cloudy or otherwise hard to see. Low visibility can indeed result in accidents, but according to City-Data, many accidents in San Francisco occur during daylight or in areas with traffic lights.
Accidents can also happen during clear weather conditions, not just in cloudy, rainy, or foggy weather. These statistics show that drivers must not become complacent. Even if a driver has good visibility during well-lit, clear conditions, accidents can still happen. Drivers must be cautious and pay attention to conditions in the roadway ahead of them.
Project Vision Zero
Vision Zero is a worldwide effort to reduce the number of traffic fatalities in major cities. Cities that join the program set specific benchmarks for reducing the number of road fatalities in their area until they reach the ultimate goal of zero road fatalities. Some major European cities, and even New York City here in America, have had success with the program.
Unfortunately, the California cities that have joined the program have had less success implementing their goals. Los Angeles has seen an increase in the city’s number of traffic fatalities since implementing Vision Zero.
According to the County Government, San Francisco has yet to achieve its benchmark goals to eliminate traffic fatalities.
What Happened In 2020
While 2020 statistics are not yet available from the County, the San Francisco Examiner reports thirty road deaths in San Francisco in 2020, one more death than the 29 reported by the County in 2019. So why would fatalities increase during a time when the number of miles driven dropped significantly?
This problem was not limited to San Francisco or even California as a whole. NHTSA released figures from across the United States that found the same trend: fatality rates were increasing when the number of miles driven was significantly decreasing. Why is this?
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that risky driving behaviors significantly increased during this period. Excessive speed, increased average speed, reduced seatbelt use, and distraction related to cell phones were higher in 2020. Researchers at trauma centers also found an increase in the number of drivers who tested positive for alcohol, marijuana, and a combination of drugs and alcohol.
All of these factors significantly increase the likelihood that a driver will be involved in an accident. These factors also increase the chances that an accident will be fatal for at least one person involved in the crash.
It is not entirely clear why, exactly, drivers were choosing to engage in more dangerous behaviors. Some of the behaviors, like speeding, could occur because there were fewer cars on the road. With more open space, some drivers appeared to take greater risks or use the empty roads as an opportunity to drive faster than usual.
With that said, this does not explain the increase in distracted driving, nor does it explain the increase in driving while impaired by drugs, alcohol, or medication. The fact remains that many drivers simply choose to engage in risky driving behaviors that result in traffic deaths.
What Needs To Happen In 2021
So how can San Francisco reverse this trend and get back on track to reduce traffic fatalities? City leaders will have to take a good, hard look at the available data from recent years. What are the causes of these fatal accidents? Are certain roads or areas of town more likely to cause accidents?
Are there dangerous roads, bridges, guardrails, or other infrastructure that need to be maintained? Does the County need to target dangerous driving behaviors, like impaired driving, distracted driving, and speeding, with an informational campaign?
All of these changes can help improve safety and reduce the risk of accidents. That said, to be effective, policymakers must target certain behaviors specifically.
Like federal and state governments, the local government here in the Bay Area has only so many funds available to target road fatalities. As a result, policymakers must find the causes of fatal accidents in our area so they can spend this money efficiently.
On an individual level, road users can help prevent accidents by avoiding behaviors that increase the risk of collisions. Drivers should follow these steps every time they hit the road:
- Do not travel above the posted speed limit.
- Reduce your speed when necessary to adapt to conditions like rain, sleet, low lighting, fog, nighttime driving, and other conditions that reduce your visibility.
- Always wear a seatbelt.
- Never drive while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, prescription medication, or any other substance that impairs your ability to drive safely.
- Do not let yourself become distracted by smartphones, smartwatches, and other connected devices. Silence the notifications on these devices so you are not tempted to check them while driving.
- Program your GPS before you start driving.
- Get your pets and children as comfortable as possible so they are less likely to need your attention on the road.
Of course, drivers are not the only road users who can take steps to avoid accidents. We’ve already seen that more than half of San Francisco’s road fatality victims are pedestrians and bicyclists. There are important steps you can take to protect yourself when you are not in a vehicle:
- Wear light-colored clothing and reflective tape so drivers can see you.
- Watch for any traffic that is in the vicinity. Even if you have the right-of-way, a driver might not see you. Never assume you will be able to safely cross a street just because you have the right-of-way.
- Bikers should always wear a helmet. Doing so may help reduce the risk of sustaining serious brain injuries or brain death.
- Distraction is not just fatal to drivers. Avoid using your phone or your smartwatch, listening to music, or engaging in other activities, especially while crossing a street. Be alert and watch out for other road users.
- Use designated bike lanes, crosswalks, and other marked areas of the roadway. Being outside these areas can increase your risk of being hit by a car, as drivers may not expect you there. Stay out of the lanes of oncoming traffic as much as possible.
- Use particular caution around vehicles that are backing up or having doors opened. These activities can distract a driver and their passengers, and they could be less likely to see you.
- It can be harder for drivers to see a bicyclist or pedestrian during times of low visibility. Be especially careful at night, in fog, during rain, and when the sunrise or sunset creates a glare in drivers’ eyes. Be ready to alert drivers to your presence or get out of the way quickly, if necessary.
Depending on the circumstances, individuals who suffer injuries because of a driver’s negligence may be able to seek compensation for their injuries and losses, including other drivers, passengers, motorcycle riders, bicyclists, scooter riders, pedestrians, and anyone else in the roadway.
You may be able to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, lost quality of life, property damage, and any other losses you suffered because of the accident. A lawyer can help assess your case and handle negotiations with the insurance company.
Drivers have a legal obligation to operate their vehicles with due care. When they neglect this duty and others are injured, it is important to hold them accountable for their actions.
Doing so may help reduce risky driving behaviors and make the roads of San Francisco safer for everyone. The experienced Bay Area car accident lawyers at Arash Law are ready to answer your questions and advocate for your legal rights.
Speak To Our California Car Accident Lawyers
If you are searching online for a “car accident lawyer near me,” our injury attorneys at Arash Law have years of experience handling a wide range of personal injury claims and providing personalized legal representation for our clients.
Our skilled legal team serves accident victims in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Fremont, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Hayward, Sunnyvale, Santa Rosa, Concord, Walnut Creek, San Leandro, Daly City, San Rafael, Emeryville, Sausalito, Union City, Pacifica, Newark, Pleasant Hill, Los Gatos, San Pablo, San Carlos, Half Moon Bay, Belmont, Gilroy, Cupertino, Livermore, Menlo Park, Morgan Hill, Napa, Sonoma, Redwood City, Richmond, San Mateo, San Bruno, Vacaville, and throughout the Bay Area.
We will investigate your case and gather important evidence to identify potentially liable parties and help establish liability. Our aim is to help you seek compensation for your injuries and losses from at-fault parties. Contact Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 or complete our “Do I Have A Case?” form here to schedule your free initial consultation.
