San Francisco is a beautiful town with amazing sites that combine both tourist fascination and residential utility. The warm temperatures and incredible sites make it a kind of mecca for motorcycle riders. However, along with an increased motorcycle population comes and increased risk of fatal motorcycle accidents.
According to a recent study conducted by California state’s Office of Traffic Safety and based upon traffic data collected in 2009, San Francisco not only tops a large number of tourist lists, but it also tops a serious traffic list. The Golden Gate city ranked number 1 for the highest number of deaths and injuries that occurred as a result of traffic collisions.
The city is home to approximately 250,000 people, not including the thousands of people who travel to the city each day. According to the study, not only did more injuries result from traffic accidents, but specifically those involving pedestrians, bicycles or motorcycles also granted the city a first place position on the rankings.
Although the average daily vehicle miles traveled by both tourists and residents is less than other major cities in California including Sacramento and San Jose, there were more deaths and injuries in 2009. At least 3,745 people were injured or killed in the traffic accidents that were recorded that year. Of those thousands, 293 were motorcyclists.
San Francisco has not always ranked highest on the traffic accident lists, but since 2006 when it was fourth on the list, each year, the city has slowly climbed to the top of the list.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle “A deadly first for San Francisco” Michael Cabanatuan 1/8/11
