California as a whole has seen a reduction in the number of pedestrian and bicycle accidents. That is some great news to those who choose to “go green” and enjoy the beautiful landscape that The Golden State has to offer. The California Highway Patrol and Department of Justice data shows that there has been a significant pattern of traffic-related fatalities in the past few years, 2011 ranking in at record lows.
If you live in the San Francisco area, don’t get too excited yet. While state numbers are at record lows, the city’s streets have shown to be increasingly dangerous to pedestrians and bicyclists. In fact, in the past couple years alone there was a 13 percent increase in the number of collisions that resulted in injuries to walkers and cyclists.
In 2010 a total of 592 bicyclists suffered serious injuries, some fatal in the city while another 832 pedestrians suffered a similar fate. Those numbers increased from the year prior. In fact, in the past five years, the traffic-related injuries to cyclists increased by a whopping 76 percent.
Does this mean pedestrians and bicyclists should stay off the roads? It certainly does not, but it does mean that there are a lot of negligent drivers out there. Pedestrians and bicyclists should not have to give up the right to enjoy the city streets or have to risk injury or even death. So when you hear about large personal injury lawsuits filed against negligent drivers, think about what that right is worth to you?
Source: SF Bay, “City Streets are a Dangerous Place,” Jesse Garnier, April 12, 2012
