San Francisco, California — In the wake of two pedestrian fatalities on Lombard Street this month, activists are urging immediate action to enhance pedestrian safety. A middle-aged man and an elderly woman were killed in separate incidents within just ten days, igniting concerns about the risks pedestrians face in urban environments.
State Senator Scott Wiener, a long-time advocate for safer streets, highlighted the concerning statistics surrounding traffic-related deaths in the United States. “People drive in countries all over the world, but the U.S. is an outlier in terms of the rate of death and serious injury on our roads,” Wiener remarked, underscoring the urgency for reform.
At a recent press event, Wiener called on Governor Gavin Newsom to support a proposed bill requiring new vehicles to be equipped with technology to alert drivers when they exceed the speed limit by 10 miles per hour.
Jodie Medeiros, executive director of Walk San Francisco, stressed the bill’s life-saving potential, aiming to prevent tragedies that keep loved ones from returning home.
Although the governor vetoed the speed limit technology bill, Wiener celebrated the signing of another measure to improve infrastructure statewide. He noted that while these initiatives may not eliminate all traffic fatalities, they are vital in reducing serious injuries and brain damage caused by accidents.
