Today, we get to celebrate something different.

Today, we get to celebrate a project that is finally complete.

The Marvin Braude Bike Path: A Smarter, More Resilient Trail Is Here

In January 2023, a series of major winter storms tore through the Southern California coast, severely damaging a stretch of the Marvin Braude Beach Bike Path near Dockweiler Beach. The damage was so destructive that a 1-mile section has been closed entirely for over two years. Cyclists, runners, and families were pushed off the protected path, being completely cut off from the most beloved beachfront trail in Los Angeles.

That closure is finally behind us. A fully funded $2 million project realigned approximately 0.2 miles of the existing bike trail away from the ocean, a design choice that will protect the path from future environmental damage.

The rebuilt section of the Marvin Braude Beach Bike Path has now reopened, reconnecting this vital stretch of the coastline and restoring access to thousands of people who rely on the path every day.

A resilient path built to last is constructed, echoing the resilient path advocates took to build it.

Thank you, Supervisor Holly Mitchell and her office, for their leadership in securing the funding needed to advance this crucial project forward. We also want to show our appreciation to Lucy at Friends of the Jungle, whose continued advocacy helped keep this issue alive and moving.

The reopening of the Marvin Braude Beach Bike Path shows that real change can happen when advocates, community members, and public officials work together. Restoring and protecting infrastructure makes it easier for everyone to choose more sustainable and healthier ways to get around.

This year marks a major milestone for Streets, Art, SAFE: ten years of empowering high school students to learn about traffic safety—and then demonstrate that learning through creativity.

At the heart of the program is a simple but powerful educational model. Students first learn core road safety concepts, risks, and behaviors.

They then reinforce that knowledge by creating public service announcements (PSAs) through film or poster design, translating what they’ve learned into clear, compelling messages aimed at their peers. In doing so, students don’t just absorb information; they actively apply it, reflect on it, and advocate for safer choices.

What began in 2015 as a small student film competition has grown into a nationally recognized education and arts program that brings together students, educators, artists, and community partners around a shared goal: making streets safer and saving lives through youth-led storytelling.

The program was created by the nonprofit Streets Are For Everyone, which works to prevent traffic violence and make streets safer for everyone, whether you walk, bike, roll, or drive.

Why Streets, Art, SAFE Matters

Traffic violence is the leading cause of death for teens ages 13–19 in the United States. Streets, Art, SAFE meets this reality head-on by engaging students where they already are: creativity, media, and visual storytelling.

Through the program, students learn about road safety while producing public service announcements (PSAs) through film, posters, and visual design. Along the way, they build real-world skills in filmmaking, graphic design, critical thinking, and communication—skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

Public service announcements are a powerful tool for social change. They use creativity and communication to raise awareness, shift attitudes, and inspire safer behavior. Streets, Art, SAFE invites students to explore traffic safety not as an abstract concept, but as a real issue affecting their families, friends, and communities.

From One School to a National Program

Over the past decade, Streets, Art, SAFE has evolved in meaningful ways.

What started as a film competition with one school and nine students has expanded to include a poster competition, now in its second year, making the program accessible to even more students. Today, the program reaches 63 participating schools, with students joining from across California as well as Arizona, Florida, New York, Texas, and Michigan.

Each year, the program grows not just in size, but in depth, creativity, and impact.

Learning Through Mentorship

A defining feature of Streets, Art, SAFE is mentorship. Students receive feedback from industry professionals who challenge them to sharpen their ideas and strengthen their work.

As one teacher shared:

“The group that won reshot over half of their film after receiving feedback. That process is really valuable; it shows students how much stronger their work can become through revision and learning.”

This emphasis on iteration and growth mirrors real creative industries and helps students understand that strong storytelling takes time, reflection, and collaboration.

Memorable PSAs Over the Years

Over the last ten years, students have produced powerful films and posters addressing distracted driving, speeding, impairment, drowsy driving, street racing, and more. These projects reflect lived experiences, personal loss, and a deep desire to protect others.

Selected PSAs include:

Selected Poster Highlights:

The Stories Behind the Art

Some of the most powerful moments in Streets, Art, SAFE happen behind the scenes.

Last year, students were asked to share why they chose their PSA topics. Many wrote about witnessing collisions, experiencing near misses, or losing loved ones to traffic violence. One student from SEED School described watching a drunk-driving crash firsthand and realizing “how fragile humans are.” A student from University High School Charter reflected on repeated close calls while walking due to distracted drivers:

“I’ve faced too many close calls when walking on the street due to drivers not paying attention”.

Others focused on responsibility and peer pressure. A student from Saint Monica Preparatory wrote:

For many students, the project became a moment of self-reflection—about maturity, speaking up, and protecting one another. As one student from Roosevelt High School shared:

”If even one person changes their behavior because of my poster, it was worth it.”

These reflections remind us that Streets, Art, SAFE is more than a competition. It is a space where creativity meets real-world consequences, and where young people discover the power of their voices.

Looking Ahead

None of this work would be possible without the support of dedicated partners and sponsors who believe in education, prevention, and youth leadership. We are grateful for the continued support of our presenting sponsor AAA, along with Honda, Waymo, Metrolink, GSTV, LA DOT, Street Racing Kills, Davidson Bike Law, and Tranzito-Vector.

As we celebrate ten years of the Streets, Art, SAFE film competition and the continued growth of the poster program, we are reminded that the work is far from finished. Traffic violence remains a leading threat to young people, and student voices are more important than ever.

Ten years in, the message is clear: when young artists are given the tools, mentorship, and platform to speak out, they don’t just create art; they create change.

Last week, SAFE and Festival Trail co-hosted a Finish the LA River Bike Path by 2028" webinar. This event brought together advocates and community members who all share a common goal: pushing Metro to finally close the eight-mile gap in the LA River Bike Path and deliver 32 miles worth of safe, continuous active transportation across Los Angeles County.

The LA River Bike Path is one of the region’s most important yet incomplete pieces of infrastructure. While several segments already serve thousands of cyclists and walkers each year, the gap through downtown LA continues to force people onto dangerous streets, undermining the path’s potential to provide safe, equitable access for commuting and recreation. This webinar was an opportunity to break down where the project stands today, what’s needed to move it forward, and how the public can play a role in ensuring it's completed.

During the webinar, we outlined the project's history and the significance of voter-approved Measure M funding, which committed over $300 million to completing the path. Participants learned how the proposed Metro project would close the gap, connect communities along the river, and create a truly regional corridor that supports biking, walking, and rolling for people of all ages and abilities. The conversation also highlighted how a completed bike path would advance broader public health and traffic safety goals.

Why the LA River

This project is not just about infrastructure, it’s about people. This bike path will do everything from providing a safe route to work or school to creating new opportunities for recreation and connection to nature. Completing the LA River Bike Path would help us move towards Vision Zero and reduce traffic violence, improve air quality, and offer an affordable transportation option at a time when many are looking for alternatives to driving.

But there are challenges ahead. Large-scale public projects require sustained political will, interagency coordination, and continued community engagement. Attendees were encouraged to stay involved, speak up at key decision points, and hold decision-makers accountable to the promises made when voters passed Measure M.

Interested in joining the coalition working to advance this project? Sign up for our communications list here.

This event is just one step in a longer journey.

Completing the LA River Bike Path is achievable, but only if public agencies hear loud and clear that Angelenos expect progress, transparency, and action. We encourage everyone who cares about safer streets, equitable infrastructure, and a healthier Los Angeles to stay engaged, share what you learned, and continue advocating for a connected LA River Bike Path.

Together, we can close the gap and create a river corridor that truly works for everyone.

This year, through advocacy events, media, and other organizational efforts, SAFE’s outreach generated over 700 million impressions, all with the underlying message that increasing safety on our roads is not just something nice to do but something that MUST be done. 

As is our tradition, we wanted to share some of this year’s highlights in photos. 

Finish The Ride and Run: Griffith Park

Our 12th Annual event returned to the Autry Museum in Griffith Park with over 1,800 attendees, including participants and volunteers. Together, we raised over $145,000 to support SAFE’s mission to make communities safer for all road users.

1000+ registered for Finish The Run Griffith Park

700+ cyclists registered for Finish The Ride Griffith Park

Finish The Ride and Run: Santa Clarita

In its 6th year, Finish The Ride and Run Santa Clarita experienced an increase in attendance for the 3rd year in a row. Almost 900 cyclists and runners came out to West Creek Park in support of safer streets. 

The event itself raised an all-time high of $62,200 to support SAFE’s mission and programs.

Policy and Legislation

During the 2025 Legislation season, the SAFE Policy and Legislation team analyzed 120 bills, focusing on 21 priority bills by the end of the legislative season. Of these 21 priorities, 13 were signed into law, and 2 bills were successfully opposed.

2025 Legislation by the Numbers

Total Number of Priority Bills Worked On (sponsored, supported, or opposed): 21

Total Number of Wins!   15 (a 71.4% win ratio)

• Co-sponsored Bills Signed: 2

• Priority Bills Signed: 11

• Opposed Bills Successfully Killed: 2

There were several significant legislative wins for SAFE this year, including the signing into law of two of our co-sponsored bills, SB 720 (Safer Streets Act) and AB 1014 (State Highway Speed Limits). SB 720 was co-sponsored by SAFE, Streets For All, and Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA). AB 1014 was co-sponsored by SAFE and Del Norte County. 

For a more detailed run-down of our Policy and Legislation accomplishments, check out SAFE’s Full Legislation Wins for 2025.

Southern California Advocacy

In 2025, SAFE initiated the highest number of advocacy projects in its history. This included 28 projects and the formation of 3 Action Teams working on initiatives in Griffith Park and Deadly Del Mar, as well as efforts to encourage transportation mode shift across Southern California. 

We also advocated for road safety funding in LA, helping to reverse a budget proposed by the LA Mayor that would have eliminated all road safety funding for 2025/2026. 

Notable wins:

• Don’t DOGE LA Die-in

• Efforts to advance AB 645 implementation in Long Beach and Glendale were largely successful. 

• Funding for a traffic signal in Historic South-Central was announced by Councilmember Price at the location of Derrick Serrano’s hit-and-run. 

• Hosting a successful World Day of Remembrance event in partnership with the CA Office of Traffic Safety and local community nonprofit partners. The media widely covered it, and SAFE was recognized for our efforts by the LA County Board of Supervisors, City of LA, and West Hollywood. 

• Construction plans for Crystal Springs Drive in Griffith Park were finally approved after 3 years of advocacy work on our end to make it safer for pedestrians and other park users. 

• Launching the Hollywood Blvd. Bike Lane Sweeper in partnership with CD13

• Worked with Supervisor District 2 to get funding allocated towards restoring and realigning the Marvin Braude Bike Path

• Completing a speed audit of Deadly Del Mar, which was covered by the Washington Post. 

• We helped secure $55 million in funding for road safety upgrades along the western portion of PCH and are working to secure another $ 70 million for the eastern end. 

In 2025, SAFE hosted 19 events and attended or supported an additional 121 events, all focused on improving street safety in LA County. 

Clean Ride Crew

2025 saw significant growth of our Clean Ride Crew Project, with the introduction of our new Clean Ride Crew coordinator, Kayla Hankins. Kayla will continue expanding the project, with a focus on the Hollywood Blvd. bike lanes.

In 2025, we also introduced Sweeping Beauty, the new bike lane sweeper for the Hollywood Blvd bike lanes, cleaning up the trash and debris twice a month. Between Sweeping Beauty and our Clean Ride Crew volunteers, we have cleaned 50,000 pounds of trash across 30 miles of bike lanes this year! 

Thanks to all of our 137 volunteers who made this the most successful year yet! 

Streets, Art, SAFE 2024/2025

Our Streets, Art, SAFE Competition concluded our 9th Annual competition and kicked off our 10th. In 2025, Streets, Art, SAFE experienced its most significant growth yet. This year, we added the option to submit Poster PSAs alongside films and expanded it to multiple states across the US. 

We partnered with AAA, and multiple non-profit partners to bring the competition to students this year. 

46 schools participated, including schools from Texas, Arizona, Florida, and Northern California, with a total of 812 students.

The winning PSAs were showcased on GSTV, in DMV waiting rooms, and in bus shelters across the City of Los Angeles, resulting in over 6 million impressions. 

You can learn more about the program and see winning PSAs by clicking the button here:

SAFE Support

This was a big year for SAFE Support, our free service which provides families affected by traffic violence with support, resources, and help to manage the aftermath of a deadly or injurious crash. This year, SAFE Support helped almost 90 new cases – a third more than the year before. 

We have also grown SAFE Families, our group to connect those affected by traffic violence and advocate for and support each other. This year, there are nearly 30 individuals growing, healing, and advocating together for safer streets. 

Thank you to the families, advocates, volunteers, and supporters who made this progress possible. We are committed to creating even more meaningful change in 2026.

The LA River Bike Path has long been a vision for a healthier, more connected Los Angeles. 

In a culture long dominated by car use, prioritizing active transportation represents a meaningful shift toward safer streets, cleaner air, and more equitable access to mobility. This infrastructure can transform the river corridor into a shared public space that connects communities, supports daily travel and recreation, and provides a mode shift for how Angelenos move through their city.

It’s a network of paved multi-use paths, removed from the roadway, that run along portions of the Los Angeles River, providing space for cyclists, rollers, walkers, and runners to travel. Today, the path exists in several major segments rather than as a single continuous corridor. The longest segment is in the southern part of the river, extending from Long Beach through Southeast Los Angeles and Vernon, while another segment runs through the Glendale Narrows and Elysian Valley north of downtown Los Angeles. 

While these segments together demonstrate the river’s potential as a regional active transportation corridor, a central 8-mile gap through downtown and nearby neighborhoods remains unbuilt, preventing a fully connected path from the Valley to the ocean.

The Future of the Bike Path

Measure M was meant to bring this vision into reality when it was approved with an overwhelming majority in 2016. Los Angeles County voters approved this half-cent transportation sales tax to fund transit and infrastructure-related projects across the region, including an investment to close the central gap in the Los Angeles River bike path. Approximately $365 million was allocated toward this critical segment, which would connect existing river paths into a continuous, roughly 32-mile active transportation corridor from the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach. 

Nearly 10 years later and an 8-mile gap remains, keeping Angelenos from having a true connection from the San Fernando Valley all the way to Long Beach. And since Measure M’s passage, rising construction costs and changes to the overall project design means that current cost estimates exceed the original funding allocation by 3-4 times the amount. These complications have contributed to delays to the estimated completion timeline.

Most recently, Metro released their Draft Environmental Impact Review (EIR) of the project, but there are plenty more steps to go before the construction even starts.

Join Us as We Discuss the Future of the Bike Path

That’s why SAFE and Festival Trail are co-hosting an online webinar on January 7, 6:00-7:00 PM to gather with partner advocates and nonprofit organizations to provide updates on Metro’s LA River Bike Path project, discuss what a fully connected path could mean for our communities, and share a collective call to action to make sure Metro knows this is a priority for the community.

Closing this gap would create a continuous, 32-mile path linking cities historically divided by freeways. It would be a safe corridor for people biking, walking, rolling, and running along the river. 

But it’s not just about providing a place for recreation; it’s about building out better connectivity without a focus on cars. 

This connectivity would provide access to jobs, schools, transit, parks, and local businesses, especially for communities that have long been underserved by safe transportation options. This would be an opportunity for mode shift and opening up a new alternative for travel around LA County.

Why We Should Care About Closing the Gap

A completed LA River Bike Path would support public health by reducing car dependence and improving air quality in river-adjacent neighborhoods. 

Providing a separate option away from cars would also support the city’s ongoing Vision Zero goal. 

Just as importantly, it would help reclaim the river as a shared public space, one that brings people together.

This upcoming webinar is an opportunity to learn where the project stands, what decisions are coming up, and how community voices can help shape the outcome. When the community is informed and engaged, projects like this are stronger, more equitable, and more likely to serve the people who need them most.

We hope you’ll join us to learn more and be part of the effort to finally close the gap and create an LA River Bike Path for everyone.

2025 was a banner year for Streets Are For Everyone’s state policy and legislation team.

We worked on more bills, sponsored more, and achieved a higher win rate than in any previous year.

There were, of course, a few important bills that we frustratingly lost the fight on, but it doesn’t mean we’ve given up on them. 

The big wins were our sponsored bills, SB 720 and AB 1014. You’ll read more about them below. 

In case you don’t know, SAFE has an amazing Policy and Legislation Internship, developed over the last 4 years and led by Kristen, who also started at SAFE as an intern.

Most of the state policy work is done by this team.

I help to lead the team, but work directly on 1-2 of our most important bills. It’s Kristen and the Policy and Leg interns who do most of the work. So 90% of the thanks go to them. 

This year’s Policy and Legislation Intern team was:

I also want to thank our partners on some of the sponsored bills — Marc Vukcevich with Streets For All, Deb Banks with Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, and Jared Sanchez with CalBike.

Now for the big wins and a few unfortunate losses. 

Damian Kevitt
Executive Director, Streets Are For Everyone 

Bills Supported That Were Signed Into Law:

SB 720 - Automated Traffic Enforcement System Programs

A SAFE Co-Sponsored Bill, Signed into Law!

SB 720, introduced by Senator Ashby, establishes an opt-in red light camera program for local jurisdictions called the Safer Streets Program, designed to save lives, improve privacy and security, and eliminate costly fines. The bill would mark a significant improvement over California’s current red light camera program, which is outdated, issues fines of up to $500, has substantial loopholes that allow people to avoid paying them, and provides very few privacy protections.

Under the revamped program, civil violations (similar to parking tickets) would be issued to the owners of vehicles running red lights. There will be a more equitable fine structure, which reduces first-time fines to $100, increases by $100 for the second violation, and by $150 for the third, up to a maximum of $500, with no additional fees, but has a mechanism in place for low-income drivers to receive automatic fine reductions. Furthermore, these violations would not affect a driver’s record or result in higher insurance premiums, and the program also includes stronger privacy protections, as it no longer requires a driver’s photo. 

SB 720 is a bill co-sponsored with SAFE, Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, and Streets For All, both important partners for this bill. We also thank the Office of Senator Ashby for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill.

AB 1014 - Traffic Safety: speed limits

A SAFE Co-sponsored Bill, Signed Into Law! 

AB 1014, introduced by Assemblymember Rogers, will aim to improve Caltrans's ability to lower or maintain speed limits on state highways where they are the most dangerous. It gives Caltrans greater authority to set safer speed limits, allowing Caltrans to reduce speed limits by 5 miles per hour if a highway segment is designated as a safety corridor or is located in an area with high pedestrian activity. 

Additionally, the bill also authorizes Caltrans to lower speeds by five miles per hour if an area is designed as a safety corridor, if an area has a high concentration of pedestrians and cyclists, is in business activity district on a highway that is not a freeway, or to maintain or revert to a previously established speed limit on a road or highway, that is not a freeway, once a registered engineer must confirm that no general-purpose lanes have been added since the engineering and traffic survey (ETS) that set that speed limit.

SAFE co-sponsored this bill with Del Norte County. We thank the Office of Assemblymember Rogers for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill.

AB 366 - Ignition interlock devices

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law! 

AB 366, introduced by Assemblymembers Petrie-Norris and Ransom, seeks to extend existing California law, which requires repeat DUI offenders to install an ignition interlock device and allows discretionary installation for first-time offenders. The bill will also generally restrict people from driving and will not be reinstated until the person gives proof of financial responsibility and gives proof satisfactory to the department of successful completion of a DMV-licensed driving-under-the-influence program.

We thank the Offices of Assemblymember Petrie-Norris and Assemblymember Ransom for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill. We also want to thank MADD, the bill's primary sponsor. While SAFE is pleased that the legislation successfully passed, we are disappointed that it was significantly amended and no longer includes the provision requiring all DUI offenders, including first-time offenders, to install an ignition interlock device (IID).

AB 875 - Vehicle removal

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!

AB 875, introduced by Assemblymember Muratsuchi, is a bill that will also authorize a peace officer to remove an illegal electric motorcycle, also known as an e-moto, defined as a vehicle exceeding 20 mph on a highway, or a class 3 electric bicycle operated by a person who is under 16 years of age. The bill would also require an agency to seize the vehicle for at least 48 hours and require the owner or violator to pay all costs related to removal, seizure, and storage.

We thank the Office of Assemblymember Muratsuchi for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill.

AB 390 - Vehicles: highway safety

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law! 

AB 390, introduced by Assemblymember Wilson, seeks to extend California's existing "move over or slow down" law to include all stationary vehicles displaying hazard lights or other warning indicators.

We thank the Office of Assemblymember Wilson for its leadership in introducing and supporting the bill, and AAA for co-sponsoring it.

AB 289 - State highway work zone speed safety program

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law! 

AB 289, introduced by Assemblymember Haney, expands SB 1297, the City of Malibu’s pilot program for automated speed enforcement systems in designated state highway construction and maintenance zones, to Caltrans, allowing the department to deploy up to 75 speed safety systems within state highway construction and maintenance zones.

We thank the Office of Assemblymember Haney for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill.

SB 671 - Pedestrian Crossing Signals

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law! 

SB 671, introduced by Senator Cervantes, is a bill that will update requirements for pedestrian and traffic signals in California by mandating the use of accessible and touch-free pedestrian signals at new state highway crossings, requiring Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs), and including the installation, activation, and maintenance of an accessible pedestrian signal (APS). The bill also requires state and local agencies to track and report signal upgrades, creating a state-mandated local program with potential for reimbursement of associated costs. 

We thank the Office of Senator Cervantes for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill, and congratulations to the California Council of the Blind, the bill’s sponsor. 

SB 79 - Housing development: transit-oriented development

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law! 

SB 79, introduced by Senator Wiener, will make it legal to build more multi-family housing near rail stations and rapid bus lines, including in areas where such homes are currently illegal. Under the bill’s provisions, the type of new homes allowed is determined by the distance to a transit stop, the transit type and frequency, and the overall level of transit infrastructure in the region.    

We thank the Office of Senator Wiener for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill. Also, well done to California YIMBI, Greenbelt Alliance, Spur, and Streets For All, the bill's co-sponsors. 

AB 1085 - License plates: obstruction or alteration 

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law! 

AB 1085, introduced by Assemblymember Stefani, seeks to prohibit the installation or manufacture of shades or tints that block electronic devices from reading license plates, such as those used by law enforcement, toll systems, or emissions monitoring systems. It would also impose a $1,000 fine per item sold or manufactured and, since this bill creates a new offense, establish a state-mandated local program.

We thank the Office of Assemblymember Stefani for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill, and Streets for All for co-sponsoring it.

AB 382 - Pedestrian safety: school zones: speed limits.

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law! 

AB 382, introduced by Assemblymember Berman, would make school zones safer by reducing prima facie speed limits to 20 mph from 25 mph when children are present. The bill also expands and updates the definition of a school zone to include areas within 500 feet of school grounds.

We thank the Office of Assemblymember Berman for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill, as well as Streets For All, the bill’s sponsor. 

AB 435 - Child passenger restraints

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law! 

AB 435, introduced by Wilson, seeks to define what it means to be “properly restrained by a safety belt,” which would mean that the child or passenger must meet the requirements of the 5-Step test. By changing the definition of “properly restrained by a safety belt,” it would expand existing crime and vehicle code and impose a state-mandated local program.

We thank the Office of Assemblymember Wilson for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill.

AB 39 - Local Electrification Planning Act

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law! 

AB 39, introduced by Assemblymember Zbur,  requires each city and county to prepare and adopt an electrification plan, or integrate a previously established plan, in its general plan, to identify various goals, objectives, policies, and implementation measures to expand electrification; more electric vehicle charging stations and investments in zero-emission technologies, and decarbonization efforts for transportation and buildings.  

We thank the Office of Assemblymember Zbur for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill. Congratulations to Building Decarbonization Coalition and CALSTART, the co-sponsors of this bill. 

AB 545 - Vehicles: electric bicycles.

A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law! 

AB 545, introduced by  Assemblymember Davies, seeks to curtail the sale of “applications” that can be used to illegally modify the speed of electric bicycles (“ebikes”) by adding the term “application” to the list of items banned from sale.  It expands existing law that prohibits the sale of “products or devices” that can increase an ebike's speed above allowable levels.

We thank the Office of Assemblymember Davies for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill, and we are pleased that it successfully passed.

Bills We Supported but Died

AB 891 - Quick-Build Project Pilot Program

A SAFE Co-Sponsored Bill that Unfortunately Died…

AB 891, introduced by Assemblymember Zbur, would have established a Quick-Build Project Pilot Program to expedite the development and implementation of quick-build bike lanes and intersection projects to improve safety on state highways for cyclists and pedestrians.

Despite quick-build being fast, flexible infrastructure changes that can be tested and adjusted as needed, the bill was placed on the suspense file after passing through the Senate Appropriations committee, and has died.

AB 954 -Interregional transportation strategic plan: bicycle highways

A SAFE Co-Sponsored Bill that Unfortunately Died…

AB 954, introduced by Assemblymember Bennet, would require Caltrans to assess, in accordance with the California Transportation Plan, the potential for incorporating bicycle highways into strategic interregional corridors identified in the Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan (ITSP). 

SAFE cosponsored the bill alongside CalBike; however, despite extensive changes and amendments, AB 954 was placed on the inactive file and has died.

SB 455-Electric Bicycles

A SAFE Priority Bill that Unfortunately Died…

SB 455, introduced by Senator Blakespear, would look to clarify the definition of electric bicycles (“ebikes”), their labeling requirements, and law enforcement’s reporting of incidents involving ebikes. The bill addressed the issue of some e-bikes being sold with motors that exceed the 28 mph limit for Class 3 e-bikes, which do not fit into California’s current three-class system. It also required officers to include e-bike identification information in any crash or injury report.

SAFE worked with Senator Blakespear’s office and Streets for All to draft the bill. However, a proposal to create a new Class IV for faster “e-motos” was opposed by the DMV due to system upgrade costs, and the bill was held in suspense.

AB 861 Community colleges: students: public transportation: Los Angeles Community College District

A SAFE Priority Bill that Unfortunately Died…

AB 861, introduced by Assemblymember Solace, would require that the Los Angeles Community College District to annually work with the LA Metro, by sending in a memorandum, stating they want GoPass TAP cards for participating students enrolled as well as establishing a student ambassador program within LA Metro where students assist with issues related to security, rider assistance, and facility upkeep on LA Metro rail and bus lines serving Los Angeles Community College District.

However, due to budgetary reasons, the bill was held in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

AB 981 - Vehicles: active intelligent speed assist devices

A SAFE Priority Bill that Unfortunately Died…

AB 981, introduced by Assemblymember Gipson, would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish a pilot program in the counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento, and Kern that would require a driver who has excessive speed, reckless driving, and exhibition of speed or driving under the influence to install an active intelligent speed assist. By creating new crimes related to the installation and maintenance of an ISA, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 

AB 981 was held in suspense by Assembly Appropriations due to significant startup costs for the program and the continued operation of the pilot program for several years, which could cost DMV potentially millions of dollars a year.

AB 1132 - Department of Transportation: climate change vulnerability assessment: community resilience assessment

A SAFE Priority Bill that Unfortunately Died…

AB 1132, i to conduct community resilience assessments, which evaluate the broad social and economic impacts of climate-related threats to critical transportation infrastructure. These assessments will be published in a “Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment” report. Assessments made by the Department of Transportation will help the state be better prepared in the event of a climate disaster, such as the one witnessed in early 2025, the California fires in Los Angeles.

AB 1132 died in Assembly Appropriations, held under suspense due to the budgetary costs of implementing the requirements and assessments the bill requests.

List of Bills We Successfully Opposed 

AB 612 - Transportation: Highway Design Manual: emergency response times.

A SAFE Opposed Bill that has Died!

AB 612, introduced by Assemblymember Rogers, seeks to require the Department of Transportation to update the MUTCD to require local governments to consult with fire departments on road improvements to ensure they do not negatively impact emergency response times. Each year, countless lives are saved by emergency responders, and we acknowledge that any delays in response time can have potentially harmful consequences.

SAFE fully supports the Safe System Approach to road safety as outlined by the US DOT. SAFE opposes the bill because if local governments are directed to consult the fire department only about emergency response times and not balance this with the potential for lives saved due to the changes – slower roads, safer roads, and roads that protect vulnerable road users, this bill could result in more lives lost, which we are sure is not the intent of this bill. 

AB 612 eventually died in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 983 Vehicles: removal and impoundment

A SAFE Opposed Bill that has Died!

AB 983, introduced by Assemblymember Macedo, would have authorized a peace officer to establish reasonable cause to believe that a vehicle was used in a violation of the crime of speeding at 100 miles per hour, engaging in a speed contest or exhibition of speed on a highway or in an off-street parking facility outside a police officer’s presence. 

While SAFE supports vigorous enforcement of vehicle speed laws and the use of speed safety systems, it does not believe AB 983 provides sufficient safeguards, and the proposed amendments are likely unconstitutional. Allowing vehicles to be seized based solely on the use of speed cameras would likely constitute a Due Process violation under the 5th and/or 14th Amendments.

Likewise, the proposed amendment would likely constitute a violation of the 4th Amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures since the seizure of private property must be based on probable cause that a crime has been committed.  

AB 983 eventually died in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

Thanks to hundreds of volunteers and advocates who have shown up, spoken out, and taken action, we’ve been able to do more, take on more projects, and save more lives.

If you look at this map of SAFE Grassroots Advocacy Projects, you’ll see we have 28 different advocacy projects happening across Southern California. There is too much going on for a single blog, but we are going to roll out info on ALL of our projects over the next several newsletters and also work to improve our website so you can stay updated on progress as it happens.  

If you would like to help on any of these projects, please contact me - the Director of LA County Advocacy, Brett Slaughenhaupt - at Brett@StreetsAreForEveryone.org or sign up as a SAFE volunteer. 

Slowing Down Speeding Drivers in Los Angeles, Glendale, and Long Beach

In 2023, after years of advocacy and close collaboration with Assemblymember (now Congressmember) Laura Friedman, AB 645, the California Speed Safety Systems Pilot Program was passed. This groundbreaking policy allows six cities across California (including three in Southern California: Glendale, Long Beach, and the City of Los Angeles) to pilot speed safety systems to reduce speeding and improve conditions on high-injury corridors and in vulnerable areas, such as school zones.

While San Francisco already has their speed cameras ticketing speeding drivers and making roads safer, implementation in all three Southern California cities has been slow, leaving vulnerable road users at continued risk of injury or death.

SAFE is actively working with local advocates and partner organizations to push for the timely and effective rollout of this critical safety program. Most recently, we published a report on the status of all six pilot cities and Malibu, which you can read here.

Bike to Dodger Stadium

Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics and the LA Mayor’s call for a car-lite Olympics, SAFE is working to combine Angelenos’ love for the Dodgers with their enthusiasm for group bike rides. We’re planning to launch "Bike to Dodger Stadium," a group ride that will demonstrate cycling as a fun and viable way to get to and from the stadium.

The first ride is scheduled to take place during a Dodgers game. Stay tuned for more updates on this soon!

Clean Ride Crew

Los Angeles County can always use more safe, accessible, and maintained bike infrastructure.

In an effort to highlight its need and bring together volunteers for a morning of fun, SAFE hosts a monthly Clean Ride Crew event, partnering with a local group to clean up a stretch of protected bike path.

Since 2023, we have hosted over 20 events, gathering hundreds of volunteers and cleaning hundreds of miles of bike path.

Most recently, SAFE expanded our Clean Ride Crew program by creating a very exciting partnership with Council District 13 to conduct bi-monthly cleanings of…

Clean Ride Crew – Hollywood Blvd. Bike Lane Sweeping

In October of this year, SAFE and Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez (CD13) unveiled a brand new electric bike lane sweeper on October 11.

After a community naming competition, the bike sweeper was announced as… Sweeping Beauty.

Since then, our Clean Ride Crew Coordinator, Kayla Hankins, has been working to keep Hollywood Blvd. clean and accessible for cyclists and pedestrians.

You can read more about the Sweeping Beauty in our blog post here, and if you happen to see Kayla and Sweeping Beauty out and about, don’t hesitate to say hello!

Fix PCH

In October 2023, four Pepperdine University seniors and sorority sisters were killed on PCH by a driver speeding at 104 MPH along a stretch of road the locals know as Dead Man’s Curve.

At the time, this was the 58th fatality along the 21 mile stretch of PCH through the City of Malibu since 13-year-old Emily Shane was hit and killed in 2010.

Past community members have demanded change but got little. SAFE stepped up to work with Malibu residents and the Emily Shane Foundation through the community group Fix PCH to push for PCH to be a safer road for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

The work has been challenging, and there’s a long way to go, but there are some definite successes: 

1. SAFE and Fix PCH installed the first-ever PCH Ghost Tire Memorial with tires representing every person killed since 2010, now 61 tires total. 

2. Caltrans has already invested several million dollars in immediate safety improvements (though a lot more is needed). 

3. The LA County Sheriff’s Dept. and CHP have increased the number of traffic officers patrolling the area for speeding or dangerous drivers. 

4. SAFE successfully secured approval for SB 1297, which designates the City of Malibu as a location for the installation of speed safety systems to enforce speed laws. These systems are slated to start ticketing reckless drivers in late 2025 or early 2026. 

5. Caltrans completed a PCH Master Plan Feasibility Study to help guide and coordinate future safety improvements for PCH. 

6. SAFE worked to get AB 1014 approved, which will allow Caltrans to slow PCH speeds in high-injury areas for safety. 

And perhaps our most important win, which we wrote about in November, the Malibu City Council voted to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision to support Caltrans’s PCH Safety Project, a $55 million once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild and make PCH safer for everyone. This would not have been possible without the help of everyone who sent in letters of support and spoke at numerous meetings, making sure the Council knew how important this was to the community.

Looking ahead at upcoming improvements for PCH: Caltrans will invest another $70 million as part of a repaving and safety improvement project on PCH from Santa Monica to the City of Malibu. This will start in 2027 and finish in 2029. Stay tuned!

World Day of Remembrance

Every year, on the third Sunday of November, is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, an international day of remembrance designated by the United Nations.

This year, SAFE led a coalition of partner nonprofit organizations and local and state agencies to gather and place 711 black chairs, each adorned with a single yellow rose, throughout the Caltrans and LAPD plazas to represent every life lost to traffic violence in Los Angeles County in 2024. Along with the art installation of empty chairs, we held a press conference and hosted a safety village for the community to engage with road safety advocates.

Along with the event, SAFE was honored to have the World Day of Remembrance and our work for traffic safety recognized by local legislators throughout the county. We were recognized by the LA County Board of Supervisors, the LA City Council, and the West Hollywood City Council. You can read more about the event here.

Bike Path Report Card

Over the past few years, SAFE has been leading an important effort to evaluate and improve the safety and quality of bike paths across Los Angeles County.

Our Bike Path Report Card project invites volunteers to assess segments of Class I and IV bike paths during their regular rides, collecting vital data to support better cycling infrastructure. The evaluations focus on key factors such as safety, surface quality, accessibility, and connectivity.

The Bike Path Report Card project is currently being revamped with updated bike maps from LA Metro and is expected to be back up and running in the new year. We are always looking for passionate cyclists to join us as volunteer graders and help keep the initiative strong.

Closing the LA River Bike Path Gap

The LA River Bike Path is a much-beloved option for cyclists and pedestrians due to its separation from the roadway, making it safer to ride, run, and walk without fear of speeding vehicles.

In a perfect world, someone starting in the San Fernando Valley could make their way to Long Beach along one path. However, that is not the current reality. We are working to push the city to prioritize closing the gaps.

Griffith Park Safety Improvements

In 2023, following the tragic death of Andrew Jelmert, who was struck and killed while cycling on Crystal Springs Drive in Griffith Park, SAFE brought together local residents and advocates to demand meaningful safety improvements. This group became known as the Griffith Park Action Team.

The Griffith Park Action team led advocacy efforts to close Griffith Park Dr. and turn it into a pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian path.

Also, in response to continued pressure, $4 million was earmarked for upgrades, and the first Griffith Park Safety and Active Transportation Safety Plan was completed. 

For too long, Los Angeles has prioritized cut-through traffic over park users.

Drivers often use park roads to access the 5 or 134 freeways, often at dangerously high speeds. These same roads are shared by families, runners, cyclists, and visitors simply trying to enjoy the park’s vital green space.

While we’ve seen some progress, such as the closure of Griffith Park Drive, much more remains to be done. After years of starts and stops, Phase III of the plan, which involves reconstructing Crystal Springs Dr., is finally moving forward.

The Griffith Park Action Team will continue to work to ensure Griffith Park is safe and welcoming for all who use it, not just those passing through in cars. We welcome your involvement in this effort!

Deadly Del Mar

Vista Del Mar in Playa del Rey has long been at the center of road safety concerns.

Recently, a group of local residents reached out to SAFE to restart the conversation on the need to slow down speeding traffic and protect pedestrians heading to Dockweiler Beach.

Through ongoing efforts, including speed surveys, community outreach, and collaboration with the local Council District office, we’re working to create safer conditions for both the roadway and the surrounding neighborhood. Our goal is clear: to prevent future injuries and save lives.

Recently, The Washington Post highlighted our efforts to uncover the dangerous circumstances along “Deadly Del Mar” in an article about LA’s Vision Zero failures.

SAFE will be releasing a report on our efforts in the new year.

Marvin Braude Bike Path Restoration

Elsewhere in Playa del Rey, SAFE worked closely with Supervisor Holly Mitchell and her office to move forward in fixing a portion of the Marvin Braude Bike Path along Dockweiler Beach.

A motion in October committed funding to restore and realign the bike path, so cyclists and pedestrians will once again have 22 miles of uninterrupted protected path to use.

Mode Shift Action Team

SAFE is gathering a group of volunteers interested in creating campaigns/calls to action around policies related to car culture and public/active transportation.

This new effort will work to create greater transparency about the need for better access and awareness of alternative ways to get around, and the barriers that keep people from using them throughout the County. SAFE highlighted one barrier related to first and last mile connections to transportation, sent to us by an advocate here.

South LA Street Racing/Takeovers Task Force

Illegal street racing and takeovers continue to be an ever-present issue across Los Angeles, but it hits certain areas of the city especially hard.

Los Angeles County decided to convene a committee of local government officials and nonprofit organizations to discuss policies and initiatives to curb growth and to offer alternative pathways for participants in these activities.

In April of this year, SAFE helped support Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s motion “Increasing Penalties for Illegal Street Takeover Organizers and Spectators and Removing Posts and Demonetizing Profiles that Promote Illegal Sideshows on Major Social Media Platforms, which were passed by the Board and covered by local outlets.

Caltrans District 7 Complete Streets Advisory Committee

SAFE sits on the advisory committee, providing input and recommendations as District 7 Caltrans moves forward with implementing its active transportation plan, to ensure it meets walk and bike safety objectives.

Angelino Heights

Street racing and sideshows (street takeovers, donuts, and burnouts) are increasingly problematic in Southern California.

Angelino Heights has become a tourist destination for illegal street racing and dangerous stunts, driven by landmarks there, such as Bob’s Market, made iconic by the Fast and Furious franchise. It’s been a recurring problem for years and is only getting worse.

SAFE and Street Racing Kills worked with residents to organize a high-profile protest to call attention to the problem in their community, to demand change from the city and state, and to request that NBCUniversal take action to make good on the long-term detrimental effects the filming of Fast and Furious films has brought to the community.

While some safety improvements have been made, such as installing bollards around Marion Park, these measures are just a first step.

We are now working to set up a community action group and to bring in additional community partners to explore funding opportunities for a more permanent green space. This effort will aim not only to calm traffic and improve safety but also to beautify and preserve the character of this historic neighborhood.

Safe Routes to School Efforts in South LA and Paramount

Derick Serrano, a 12-year-old boy, was walking home from school when he was struck and killed by a car while crossing the Vernon and Wadsworth intersection in South Los Angeles.

It should not take the death of a child for the city to prioritize safer streets.

Since that tragic incident, SAFE has been working alongside LA ACCE to advocate for critical road improvements to protect children and families. This work also aims to raise broader awareness about the urgent need for slower, safer roads for pedestrians.

After months of hard work, Councilmember Curren Price announced a $1 million investment in the intersection to install a traffic signal and pedestrian crossings. You can read more about this major win here.

Walk Audit

In Paramount, we are collaborating with California Walks (Cal Walks), UC Berkeley SafeTREC, and local advocates to address hazardous street conditions near Mark Keppel Elementary and Dominguez High School.

As part of this effort, we conducted a neighborhood walk audit and hosted a Comunidades Activas y Seguras (Safe and Active Communities, or CAyS) workshop to engage the community and identify targeted solutions.

Pearblossom Highway

Pearblossom Highway 138 has been the location for many crashes and deaths due to unsafe road conditions.

A group of local advocates are working with the County to bring to light the many issues at play to create a safer roadway.

Most recently, they met with key decision-makers, including Assemblymember Juan Carrillo, along with Caltrans and LA County Department of Public Works staff, to tour the roadway and discuss the need for safety improvements. You can read more about this here.

Pine Mountain Club

Local advocates are working to raise awareness of the dangers of driving on mountain roads at high speeds. Additionally, they are working to improve pedestrian and bike infrastructure that is separated from cars.

Again, if you would like to help on any of these projects, please contact me at Brett@StreetsAreForEveryone.org or sign up as a SAFE volunteer!

Speeding remains one of the leading causes of traffic deaths in California. The Assembly Bill (AB) 645 Speed Safety Systems pilot program was designed to address it head-on. The bill authorizes a five-year pilot program to implement a predetermined number of automated speed cameras across six pilot cities (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Glendale, Los Angeles, and Long Beach), along with Malibu, which was added to the bill a year later. With this program, the state created an opportunity to test a proven, life-saving tool already in use by cities across the nation, such as Seattle, Philadelphia, and New York.

Yet, as of today, implementation progress varies dramatically from city to city, and the delays continue to put the lives of residents and anyone who walks, bikes, or drives in the city at risk.

In 2023, the California State Legislature passed AB 645, designating six cities to implement a five-year pilot speed-safety camera program. The program allows a limited number of speed camera systems on high-injury networks (streets with the highest injury and death rates), school zones, and street-racing corridors. The bill’s cosponsors – SAFE, Streets For All, and Walk San Francisco – worked to ensure equity and privacy measures were built into the bill. This enables each city to properly implement non-police measures to enforce speeding regulations and save lives. SAFE also ensured that any revenue generated from speeding drivers could only be used to fund badly needed road safety improvements across the city, such as new crosswalks and speed humps around schools and in residential neighborhoods.

To help create more transparency around the program and implementation process, in 2025, SAFE created key documents outlining key details, an Implementation Checklist, and an Implementation Flowchart to guide city staff.

Steps to Implement the Speed Systems Pilot Program

There are several steps a city must take to implement the Speed Systems program, as laid out in AB 645. These steps, as outlined in our Implementation Checklist, are to ensure proper awareness time for residents and to ensure city staff are properly trained. These steps, in brief, are detailed below: 

1. Ensure Eligibility for Program Implementation – For a city to implement the AB 645 Speed Safety Systems pilot program, they must first be identified as one of the six pilot cities (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Glendale, Los Angeles, and Long Beach) or have themselves added in a subsequent piece of legislation, as Malibu did with Senate Bill (SB) 1297.

2. Develop an Implementation Plan – The city must develop a Speed Safety System Use Policy and Impact Report that outlines camera locations, signage, data-handling procedures, and privacy protections. It must comply with all state requirements, including limits on data storage and use. 
   The city can also begin identifying eligible camera locations that meet the criteria of being a designated high-injury corridor, a street with four or more street racing or takeover incidents, or a school zone.

3. Conduct a Public Process – A city website will publish the Use Policy and Impact Report and include additional details on the program for public awareness. Cities must hold at least one public hearing and provide opportunities for community input before installing cameras.

4. Vendor Selection – The city can begin moving forward with its vendor selection either through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process or using the contract from another pilot city (an action called “piggybacking”).

5. Train City Staff and Establish Equity Measures – City staff must be properly trained to administer the program and manage all data in accordance with privacy and security standards. In addition, the legislation requires cities to provide a diversion program and offer payment plans to ensure the program is equitable and does not disproportionately impact lower-income residents.

6. Launch a 30-Day Warning Period – Once cameras are installed, the city must issue warning notices — not citations — for the first 30 days to inform drivers of the program.

7. Begin Enforcement – After the warning period, the city can begin issuing citations to drivers exceeding the speed threshold (11 mph or more over the posted limit).

What is the status of each city’s program implementation?

SAFE gathered feedback from each pilot city to understand their progress toward implementing AB 645. The Report Card below compares the status of each city as of October 2025, with grades based on how far along each is in making the program fully operational. SAFE evaluated each implementation step to determine whether a city had taken no action, was in progress, or had completed the required step. This assessment was then used to calculate each city’s overall progress toward full implementation and to assign a grading score.

Six Pilot Cities

San Francisco (Grade: A+)

Program website: Speed Safety Cameras | SFMTA

Number of cameras: 33

Percentage complete: 100%

Current status: Completed, all cameras issuing citations

San Francisco is the clear leader, issuing its first warning tickets on March 20, 2025, and issuing its first citations in August. A recent report from SFMTA showcases the program’s success in slowing speeds and stopping recidivism, with speeding reduced by an average of 72% among 15 key camera locations. Within its first 6 months of operation, over 400,000 warning notices were issued from March to August. Since July, the city has seen consistent week-over-week declines in violations, demonstrating that these systems are successfully creating behavior change (safer, slower drivers). 

The difference between the speed of San Francisco’s implementation and the lack of speed in other cities is that San Francisco prioritized the implementation of speed safety cameras, starting the day after Governor Newsom signed AB 645, knowing that this was the most effective way they could save lives and raise funds for other badly needed road safety improvements.  

This program is a clear win for the city and its residents. With fewer speeding drivers, this ensures roadways are safer for all pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.

Oakland (Grade: B+)

Program website: Speed Safety Cameras Pilot Program | City of Oakland, CA

Number of cameras: 18

Percentage complete: 67.86%

Current status: Installing cameras and beginning public awareness campaign.

Oakland is the next closest city to implementing its speed program. Oakland’s Department of Transportation presented its intention to have the program live and issuing warnings by the end of 2025. It is currently on track to do so.

San José (Grade: B)

Program website: Speed Safety Cameras Pilot Program | City of San José

Number of cameras: 33

Percentage complete: 60.71%

Current status: Finalizing program details and training city staff.

San José approved its System Use Policy and Impact Report on 10/29/2024 and finalized a vendor for the program. The city is now in the process of ensuring the program can be properly administered by its staff before installing its 33 cameras.

Glendale (Grade: B-)

Program website: Glendale Speed Safety Program (AB 645)

Number of cameras: 9

Percentage complete: 50%

Current status: Will be finalizing program details and training city staff.

At its City Council meeting on December 16, the City voted to authorize a vendor contract to move forward with implementation of the program. The City will now work to ensure the program can be properly administered by staff before installing its 9 cameras.

Long Beach (Grade: B-)

Program website: Long Beach Automated Speed Enforcement System Program

Number of cameras: 18

Percentage complete: 50%

Current status: Will be finalizing program details and training city staff.

Long Beach approved its System Use Policy and Impact Report at its City Council meeting on December 16. The Council also voted to authorize a vendor contract. The City will now move forward with ensuring the program can be properly administered by staff before installing its 18 cameras.

Los Angeles (Grade: D)

Program website: Speed Safety System | Los Angeles Department of Transportation

Number of cameras: 125

Percentage complete: 28.57%

Current status: Drafting System Use Policy and Impact Report.

Los Angeles is the largest of the six pilot cities and has hundreds of fatalities and serious injuries resulting from speeding drivers every year. LA is also currently the slowest city to implement the program, putting millions of lives at risk. Most recently, the LA Department of Transportation presented to the Transportation Committee with an update on the program implementation, including the procurement process for a vendor and the drafting of a System Use Policy and Impact Report. LADOT communicated a timeline to have the program in use by the end of 2026, but they will need to move quickly to meet this target.

Additional City Integrated into the Program

Malibu (Grade: B+)

Program website: Pacific Coast Highway Safety | Malibu, CA - Official Website

Number of cameras: 5

Percentage complete: 46.43%

Current status: Next step is working on the RFP for vendor selection.

The City of Malibu is a unique city within the Speed Safety Systems program. It was not initially identified as one of the six pilot cities when AB 645 was passed in 2023. However, after the City Council declared a Local Emergency on 11/13/2023 to address extremely dangerous conditions along Pacific Coast Highway in the city, they moved to be added to the program via SB 1297, signed by Governor Newsom on 9/27/2024. Having approved the System Use Policy and Impact Report earlier this year, as well as releasing the Request for Proposal for vendors. They are now moving forward with identifying a vendor for the program.

Why Local Residents Should Care

The uneven rollout highlights a troubling discrepancy throughout our state. While San Francisco residents are already benefiting from safer streets, millions in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Malibu, cities with some of the highest crash rates in the state, remain exposed to preventable traffic violence. A report published by the SFMTA found that the first six months of the program being live have seen a 72% reduction in speeding across 15 key locations. Imagine that being the case not only in one city but in all seven.

Here you can see the impact that speeding drivers and unsafe roadways have across the six pilot cities. The numbers in the chart represent far more than statistics. They reflect people with families, friends, and loved ones whose lives have been forever changed.

Every month of delay represents more lives lost. SAFE is urging local leaders to double down on this program and treat AB 645 with urgency. Cities that are lagging need to fast-track vendor selection, equity measures, and public outreach without cutting corners. Automated speed safety systems have been proven across the country to reduce speeding and fatal crashes. The sooner these systems are operational, the sooner we save lives. Road safety can’t wait.

On Saturday, October 11, SAFE joined Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez and his CD13 team at Barnsdall Art Park to unveil our new electric bike lane sweeper and announce its name, chosen from more than 140 submissions in a community naming competition. The new sweeper, named Sweeping Beauty, is the first of its kind in the City of Los Angeles, and certainly not the last. 

The community event, held as part of California Clean Air Day, also featured tabling by the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council and a community mural activity hosted by the Barnsdall Art Center.

The 2.1-mile stretch of protected bike lane along Hollywood Blvd. officially opened last year as part of the city’s Access to Hollywood project. SAFE wanted to ensure the bike lane remains safe and accessible for everyone, so we reached out to Councilmember Soto-Martinez to explore a collaboration to keep the lane clear of debris.

These discussions led to CD13 sponsoring our new electric bike lane sweeper, which will be out on the streets later this month. SAFE’s Clean Ride Crew Coordinator, Kayla Hankins, will begin cleaning the Hollywood Blvd. protected bike lane by pulling the sweeper with an e-bike twice a month.

SAFE is excited to continue working with the city to prioritize road safety for all users. This includes maintaining clean and safe bike lanes, especially at a time when the city’s current maintenance practices often leave them neglected and filled with trash and debris. By prioritizing cleanliness, we make these bike lanes accessible to riders and runners of all ages and abilities, helping create a viable transportation alternative that moves Los Angeles away from car culture.

If you see Kayla and Sweeping Beauty out along Hollywood Blvd., make sure to say hello! And if you would also like to volunteer for future Clean Ride Crew opportunities, SAFE holds a monthly event where we clean and maintain Class I and Class IV bike lanes across LA County to continue to advocate for improved safety and cleanliness on LA’s bike lanes.

Two people died per day, on average, as a result of traffic violence on Los Angeles County roads in 2024. Connected to those people were countless family members, loved ones, co-workers, and more who are forever impacted by these unnecessary and preventable losses.

For the past seven years, SAFE has commemorated the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims by telling the stories of those whose lives were cut short and advocating for meaningful change across the county.

This year, we continued that commitment by honoring the victims, uplifting their families, and pushing for safer streets in every community.

We gathered with partner nonprofit organizations and local and state agencies to honor the 711 people who lost their lives on Los Angeles County roadways in 2024.

The event was held at the Caltrans District 7 Building Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles and included an art installation of 711 empty chairs, a press conference, and a safety village where local organizations provided resources to the community.

No More Empty Chairs

Inspired by the Empty Chair Club, developed by the Emily Shane Foundation, 711 black chairs—each adorned with a single yellow rose—were placed throughout the Caltrans and LAPD plazas to represent every life lost to traffic violence in Los Angeles County in 2024.

Families of victims were also invited to decorate a chair in remembrance of their loved one as a way to honor their loved one’s memory.

The Movement Is Growing

SAFE was honored to have the World Day of Remembrance and our work for traffic safety recognized by local legislators throughout the county.

The LA County Board of Supervisors passed a motion proclaiming November 16 as “Los Angeles County Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims.”

SAFE was invited to co-present on the importance of making roadways safer in the City of Los Angeles, alongside Councilmembers Hutt and Yaroslavsky, in commemoration of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

The City of West Hollywood recognized World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and SAFE’s work to honor the victims of traffic violence and our continued efforts to make all roadways throughout the county safer for everyone.

Thank You to Everyone Who Recognized This Day

A huge thank-you to all our partners for committing their time and energy to ensuring this important day was a success.

State and Local Agencies:
California Office of Traffic Safety, Caltrans, CHP, LA County Board of Supervisors, LA County Dept. of Public Health, LA County Public Works, LA Dept. of Transportation, LA City Council, and the West Hollywood City Council.

Partner Nonprofits and Organizations:
The Emily Shane Foundation and The Empty Chair Club, Los Angeles Walks, Bike LA, AAA, Street Racing Kills, SoCal Families for Safe Streets, Car-lite Long Beach, SAFE Families, MoveLA, Stop4Aidan, Bike Culver City, Biking While Black, Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, Mt. Salem–New Wave Christian Fellowship Church, Faith for SAFEr Streets, South Pas Active, and Streets For All.

And a special thank-you to Pyramid Legal for their financial contributions to this event, which helped make it possible. If you would like to contact them for a free case evaluation, you can do so at (818) 946-0763.

Traffic Violence Is Preventable

As we reflect on the traffic deaths in 2024 and look ahead to World Day of Remembrance in 2026, SAFE will continue to push for safer roads until there are no more empty chairs.

Want to be part of the movement for safer streets?

Join the SAFE Streets Collective, volunteer at one of our events, or make a donation to help sustain our programs and advocacy.

Together, we can turn remembrance into action and ensure there are no more empty chairs.

On Monday, November 4, the Malibu Planning Commission changed its tune and voted 4 to 1 in favor of the Caltrans PCH Safety Project — a $55 million once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild and make PCH safer for everyone.

Caltrans PCH Safety Project Recap

This plan would repave and reconstruct the western end of PCH from Cross Creek Road to the Ventura County line while adding long-overdue safety improvements like:

• Lane narrowing to help reduce speeding

• 10 miles of new or upgraded bike lanes

• 6,956 linear feet of new sidewalks in high pedestrian zones, including in front of Pepperdine University

• 27 new dark-sky-compliant light poles

• 22 new or upgraded curb ramps for pedestrian access

• Installation of 19 upgraded guardrails

• Two realigned intersections

• Three new retaining walls

• A vehicle pullout for law enforcement use

• Median reconstruction at various locations

• Associated roadway improvements along Pacific Coast Highway within the Public Right-of-Way between the Ventura County line and Serra Road

There are additional safety improvements that can and should be made after this. They will require additional funding and much more work to secure approval from agencies like the California Coastal Commission. The items above are changes that can be easily implemented with the funds immediately available.

Now the Bad News

The one Planning Commissioner who voted against the plan, John Mazza, is also the Vice President of the Malibu Township Council. The MTC is an influential neighborhood association that opposes anything, including life-saving safety measures, that could harm the "rural character of Malibu." They have filed an appeal with the City of Malibu and are mounting a campaign to pressure City Council members to vote against the PCH Safety Plan.

What MTC Claims and Wants

According to the City of Malibu’s analysis, the Malibu Township Council claims the Planning Commission’s decision was not the least environmentally damaging alternative, was contrary to law, and violated the Public Access provisions of the LCP (Local Coastal Program—planning documents used to guide planning in coastal areas).

Among other things demanded by the MTC, they want two sidewalks removed, more light poles removed, and the bike lanes painted green. I agree with the last request, but I find it especially odd, as many of their complaints about the safety plans are that they would ruin the “rural nature of Malibu,” yet they also want to paint the bike lanes green, which definitely does not align with rural aesthetics—odd.

The City of Malibu’s analysis finds that the plans pose no significant adverse environmental effects, that nothing in the PCH Safety Plan is contrary to existing law, and that the California Coastal Commission found they don’t violate the LCP.

PCH Needs More Help for the Final Win

So, even though the City’s own analysis states that the appeal is without merit, it still has to go before the Malibu City Council for another vote, and the MTC is doing all it can to kill the project.

There is so much more that needs to be done with PCH than just this plan, but if we lose this fight, it will take years or decades to move other improvements forward for PCH.

Please send another email to the Malibu City Council. Tell them to ignore the MTC and uphold the 4–1 decision of the Malibu Planning Commission. Caltrans has agreed to continue to work with the City on the aesthetics of the improvements, but the safety elements are key to saving lives.

• You can send an email easily by clicking here: https://bit.ly/PCH_Plan.

The appeal will be heard at the Malibu City Council Meeting on Monday, November 24, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Malibu City Hall. Agenda Item 5B.

• If you can’t attend in person, you can join and provide public comment virtually using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88919405977.

We won't stop fighting to save lives on PCH, and hopefully, this is the last hurdle before the plans go out to bid and into construction.

29 Nov 2025 Update on PCH

Thank you to everyone who wrote to the Malibu City Council after our Call to Action. One hundred twenty-one of you sent emails using our link, and in total, close to 300 emails were received by the City Council—almost all in support of the PCH Safety Plan. In addition, scores of people spoke at the meeting in support of the plan, with only a couple opposed or pushing to water it down.

The result? In a 3–1 vote, the Malibu City Council voted to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision. This can still be appealed to the California Coastal Commission. I’m honestly not sure why they would appeal it again, but you never know.

Fingers crossed—and we’ll keep you posted—but for now, the $55 million project to repave and improve safety along the western section of PCH through Malibu is moving forward, with a start date slated for early to mid-2026.

We are expecting a similar fight for a safety project on the eastern section of PCH. We’ll let you know.

– Damian

On Sunday, 14 September, we cheered, we laughed, we cried, we hugged, and we remembered 10 years of advocacy, 10 years of legislation, 10 years of supporting victims of traffic violence, 10 years of road safety education through the arts – 10 years of Streets Are For Everyone. It was a special afternoon, shared with so many friends and family, fellow advocates and supporters.

This is the first time SAFE has held an anniversary event. Technically, SAFE’s official birth, the day the IRS recognized us as a non-profit, is on 3 March 2015. And technically, I should have written and sent this blog out two months ago, but, in our defense (well, it’s more my defense), SAFE has been SOOOO busy with legislation, advocacy, education, and support that it has been hard to find a moment to breathe, let alone plan a celebration or to simply write this blog.

Held at the Morrison Restaurant: SAFE’s Roots

This is a well-deserved plug and thank you to The Morrison, where it all started, and where we came back for our Anniversary event. The Morrison is an extraordinary Craft Burgers and Beer restaurant and sports bar in Atwater Village. They were one of the first organizations to step on board to support Finish The Ride on 27 April 2014, and they have been supporting Finish The Ride and Run Griffith Park ever since. Marc Kreiner is the owner of The Morrison. When you see him, you’ll know him with his tall build and his always bright smile. 

What’s even funnier about the chosen location is that The Morrison is known for its holiday decorations, especially Halloween, so the event was seasoned with the periodic flying witch, floating head, and other ghouls.

The Night in Photos

Awards and Thank You’s

SAFE wouldn’t be where it is without so many individuals who have worked with us, pushed us to do more and be better, and our supporters and volunteers who have trusted us with their donations to invest in safer roads. 

Awards were first presented by the SAFE Board of Directors to those who have gone above and beyond by donating to support SAFE’s work.

Supporter of SAFE Streets

Supporter of SAFE Streets with Honors

Sponsor of SAFE Streets with Honors

Protector of the Streets with Honors

Someone Special – Dayna Galbreath

There was a special acknowledgement I made to someone who literally helped to keep me alive, and has given up so much to help make the First and EVERY SINGLE Finish The Ride and Run event happen, and that’s Dayna Galbreath. 

Dayna was my favorite nurse at the hospital, who took care of me at night and went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable and well cared for. When we decided to start Finish The Ride, she immediately stepped on board as our first super volunteer, working all night and sometimes volunteering all day. 

When SAFE was started, she quit her job, got paid pennies compared to what she had been earning, and, for many years, was the backbone of SAFE day in and day out. 

Without Dayna, I might or might not be here, but SAFE for sure wouldn’t, and she will always have my utmost appreciation and respect.

The Original Gangsta’s

It’s possible that none of what SAFE accomplished would have ever been possible if it weren’t for the original team that created the first Finish The Ride event. The fact that they agreed to step up and make my vision real was possibly crazy, but they pulled it off and helped to launch something bigger than any of us would have realized. While they have all gone on to other things (except for my mom, who will always be my mom), SAFE will always know they are the originals, and they are gangsta’s!

•  JJ Hoffman – former Dir of Development for the LA County Bicycle Coalition, Founding Staff Member for SAFE, and Event Director for the first Finish The Ride events.

• Colin Bogart – former Director of Education for the LA County Bicycle Coalition and ride coordinator for the first Finish The Ride.

• Eric Bruins – former Director of Policy for the LA County Bicycle Coalition and event manager for the first Finish The Ride Event.

• Michele Kirkland – still Mom and super-volunteer from the start.

• Justin Hager – former Director of Communications for Asm. Mike Gatto, gov’t liaison for the first Finish The Ride event, and super-volunteer from the start

• Dayna Galbreath – nurse and first super-volunteer for Finish The Ride and SAFE.

Missing from this photo, as they couldn’t make it, are Jen Klausner, the former Executive Director for LA County Bicycle Coalition, Traci Parks, and so many other super volunteers. 

But it wasn’t just the Original Gangsta’s that made SAFE possible; there are so many partner organizations that SAFE works with, who do so much fantastic work of their own. Some of them were in attendance at our celebration. Truly, we help to uplift each other, and I am constantly learning from and improving what we do because of their work.

They include (not in any specific order): Streets For All, The Auto Club of Southern California, Day One, Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, South Pasa Active Streets, Bike LA, the Los Angeles Bicycle Advisory Committee, Bahati Foundation, USA Triathlon Foundation, LA Walks, Move LA, Festival Trail, Walk n Rollers, Active SGV, Investing in Place, People for Mobility Justice, Biking While Black, SBBC+, SM Spoke, Walk Bike Glendale, Bike Culver City, Walk Bike Long Beach, Car Lite Long Beach, Strong Towns Burbank, Streetsblog, Biking in LA and I’m sure there are more who I forgot to mention.

Looking to the Future

We then looked to the future, where I talked about programs and plans that haven’t been broadly announced yet, or that were officially announced, but I gave a sneak peek into. These included: 

• Our strategies and plans ahead of the 2028 Olympics include an aim to foster transportation “mode shift” across LA County.

• The first sneak peek into our Hollywood Blvd Bike Lane sweeper, named Sweeping Beauty, which was officially announced on 14 October. 

• The expansion of Streets, Art, SAFE into Northern California, thanks to a partnership with Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates.

• A new pilot program between SAFE Support and LAPD.

• The return of the LA River Ride.

SAFE Inland Empire

The announcements included the unveiling of SAFE’s first official chapter, SAFE Inland Empire! SAFE Inland Empire was co-founded by friends and family members who have lost loved ones due to traffic violence in San Bernardino and Riverside County. Co-founders Eileen Navarro and Tami Friedrich were present to talk about SAFE IE, what they are doing, and why they started it.

Save Life Gambia

We also announced our first international partnership with an NGO called Save Life Gambia (SLG). SLG runs The Gambia’s only Safe Routes to School program to help educate kids on safe and responsible walking and cycling, and to create (and I literally mean create) crosswalks and other infrastructure to make it safer for kids to walk or bike to school.

In Closing

Our closing keynote speaker was Councilmember Nithya Raman, who delivered a moving speech about the importance of SAFE's work and how our efforts have helped hold them accountable for safer roads in her district and across the city. Councilmember Raman was presented with an acknowledgment for her work to champion road safety projects in Los Angeles.

As you can see, it was a special night, a beautiful night.

While there will never be another 10th Anniversary Celebration, we all had fun and will do this again next year, even better. We could make it sooner than September, if we take a moment from all the work that SAFE is doing to breathe and plan it out. I hope you’ll be able to join us for our 11th Annual Anniversary Celebration. We’ll let you know as soon as we have a date set.

On Sunday, October 26, 861 cyclists, runners, walkers, families, and survivors gathered at West Creek Park for a Halloween-themed Finish The Ride & Run – Santa Clarita, turning a day of fitness into a powerful statement for safer streets across California. The park buzzed with costumes and determination—skeletons, traffic cones, aliens, and even a stunning Catrina brought bursts of color and spirit to the course.

From sunrise to the final medal, the energy was electric and inspiring. Participants of all ages—from 1 to 90—took on the challenge, from the 1K Kids & Puppy Run to the 62-mile Metric Century Ride, proving once again that this iconic LA County event is built on hope, resilience, and community.

A Day of Purpose and Passion

Finish The Ride began as a promise from one survivor: SAFE’s founder, Damian Kevitt, who turned tragedy into advocacy after a devastating hit-and-run in Griffith Park. What started as his personal mission to “finish the ride” has grown into a statewide movement—Streets Are For Everyone (also known as SAFE)—united by one belief: no one should die or be injured just for getting where they need to go.

In Santa Clarita, that mission came to life. Riders, runners, and volunteers joined forces to remember victims of traffic violence, support survivors, and raise awareness about road safety. The event also raised funds to power SAFE’s year-round programs, including SAFE Support, which provides services for survivors and family members affected by traffic violence; Streets, Art, SAFE, a free educational road safety program for high school students; and advocacy and policy efforts that create real, lasting change to make roads safer across California.

Community at Its Core

Beyond the races, the event expo became the heart of the day, bringing the community together—filled with live music, giveaways, and local vendors who kept the energy high. It wasn’t just about miles—it was about movement, connection, and shared purpose.

None of it would have been possible without the dedication of our sponsors, volunteers, and partners—especially Cohen Law Partners, our Title Sponsor, who stand beside SAFE year after year as both advocates and cyclists, fighting for safer roads across Los Angeles County and beyond.

The Movement Continues

Finish The Ride & Run is a celebration, but it is also a commitment. Every mile, every stride, and every story adds momentum to the fight for safer roads where fear is no longer a feeling that comes along with moving from one place to another.

Couldn’t make it to Santa Clarita? The movement rolls on! Join us at Griffith Park, May 2–3, 2026, for the next Finish The Ride & Run. 

Let’s make this upcoming event bigger and push for expanding the limits of your own biking/running time records! Bring your friends, your family, and your passion for safer streets. Next year, together, we’ll ride, run, and roll for change. Because every finish line crossed brings us closer to a future where everyone makes it home safely.

Because it’s not just an event, it’s a movement. 

Learn more and register soon: www.FinishTheRide.org

In February 2013, Damian Kevitt’s life changed forever. While cycling in Griffith Park, he was struck by a hit-and-run driver who dragged him nearly a quarter of a mile onto and down the 5 freeway. Against all odds, Damian survived, but he lost his right leg and nearly his life.

As he recovered, Damian made a promise: not only would he finish the ride he started that day, but he would dedicate his life to making streets safer for everyone. That promise became Finish The Ride—a movement that turned tragedy into purpose, pain into momentum, and individual courage into community action.

From One Ride to a Statewide Movement

What began as a gathering of friends and cyclists determined to help Damian “finish the ride” has grown into one of California’s most recognized road safety movements. The first event drew hundreds of riders and survivors who shared one goal: to make sure what happened to Damian never happens again.

Over the years, Finish The Ride evolved and added Finish The Run, expanding its reach to walkers, runners, skaters, and families who believe in reclaiming our streets for everyone. It’s not just about the finish line; it’s about a shared vision for safer, cleaner, more connected communities.

Today, Finish The Ride and Run events are held annually in Griffith Park and Santa Clarita under the mantra “Never Give Up”. 

It is a movement for safer roads across California

Why We Ride and Run in Santa Clarita

As with our original Finish The Ride event in Griffith Park, there’s a story behind why we also have an event in Santa Clarita beyond just having the most amazing cycling paths. The first Finish The Ride and Run event in Santa Clarita was started in partnership with another amputee named Kevin Korenthal, who had a nonprofit helping trauma survivors to get active again. Kevin lived in Santa Clarita and wanted to do a joint fundraiser using the great paths of Santa Clarita. And thus, Finish The Ride and Run Santa Clarita was born.

Kevin later merged his nonprofit with SAFE and has since moved to Texas, but the event he helped start lives on and has now grown to one of the best cycling and running events in the area.

The Experience

Finish The Ride and Run Santa Clarita offers multiple distances

• 1K Kids and Puppy Runs

• 5K Run/Walk

• 10K Run/Walk

• 12 Mile Fun Ride/Roll

• 25 Mile Tour de River Ride

• 62 Mile Metric Century

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just looking to enjoy the day, you’ll be surrounded by people who share a passion for safe streets and active living.

Expect energy, music, some Halloween fun, and community—the kind that turns an ordinary Sunday into something unforgettable. You’ll meet everyone—from experienced cyclists and runners to survivors who found healing in advocacy, families riding together for the first time, and volunteers who make every finish line possible.

And yes, there will be medals, cheers, and that rush of adrenaline as you cross the line knowing you’re part of something bigger.

The Cause That Keeps Us Going

Every Finish The Ride and Run event funds programs that fight for safer roads, cleaner air, and stronger communities. It supports programs such as SAFE Support, the first support system for victims of traffic violence and their families; Streets, Art, SAFE, a free high school program that educates youth through the arts; working with policymakers to enact sensible road-safety laws; and grassroots advocacy in communities across California.

Because when we ride and run together, we’re not just participants—we’re advocates.

Join the Movement

Ten years after that hit-and-run, Damian still rides. Not just for himself, but for every life touched by traffic violence, and for every person who believes our streets can be better.

This October 26, join Finish The Ride & Finish The Run Santa Clarita. Bring your energy, your running shoes, your helmet, and your hope. Let’s show that Southern California stands united for safer, more livable streets for all.

Register now at bit.ly/Register_FTR_SC

For those who don’t drive, this week may not feel like a challenge at all; it’s just everyday life. But for drivers, this week is an invitation: what would it feel like if you put the keys away for seven days?

Maybe you’ve never thought about it. For many, driving feels automatic, even necessary. Yet for others, a car isn’t affordable. Some avoid driving because of stress, while others carry trauma from collisions that make getting behind the wheel impossible. Even more people avoid driving because using other means of travel—walking, biking, or taking transit—is better for mental and physical health and lowers our impact on the planet.

Week Without Driving is a chance to pause and reflect on how our city moves when the car isn’t at the center.

A super fun musical PSA created by students of Saint Monica Preparatory School for Week Without Driving.

Reflecting on Driving Habits

If you’re a driver, here’s where to start:

• Think about your last week of driving. How much did you spend on gas? How many hours were spent in traffic? How did you feel at the end of each trip? Refreshed, calm, stressed, drained, happy?

• Write these down in a notebook or in your phone. They’ll be your baseline to compare after the week ends.

Now, consider what life looks like without the car.

Trying Out Alternatives

• Public transit: Metro, Metrolink, and bus lines can take you all over the place! And on October 1st – for CA Clean Air Day – Metro and Metrolink are offering FREE rides on all trains, buses, and Metro Bike Share. Rail turnstiles will be unlocked. Metro Micro: Use code CleanAir24 for free rides. Metro Bike Share: Use code 100224 for free 30-minute rides.

  Imagine getting to your destination while reading a book, catching up on podcasts, or simply relaxing because someone else is driving for you.

• Bicycles: If you choose to ride, put safety first. Wear a helmet, use available bike lanes, signal your turns, and stay aware of your surroundings. Leave the headphones off; your senses are your best protection. Riding can be freeing, fun, and surprisingly efficient!

• Take a walk! If you’re close enough and physically able, consider just taking in the scenery and walking to work - or wherever you’re headed to.

Seeing the City Differently

One of the most powerful parts of this challenge is perspective. Notice how life looks when you’re not behind the wheel: what challenges do others face without a car? Where could public transit improve? What moments of joy do you discover? Murals, gardens, street live music, or conversations you’d miss if you were focused on traffic?

Organizations like SAFE are working for exactly this kind of change: a democracy of mobility that is fair, safe, and accessible for everyone—drivers, bikers, and walkers alike.

Benefits Beyond the Car

By the end of the week, return to your notes from day one. Ask yourself: How did my stress levels change? Did I save money? Was my mood different? What advantages of transit or biking surprised me?

The benefits often go beyond cost or convenience. A calmer commute. Less stress. A stronger connection to your community and environment.

Why This Challenge Matters

Week Without Driving isn’t about blaming drivers. It’s about seeing the full picture of mobility in Los Angeles. Cars have shaped our culture and our streets, but they’ve also contributed to collisions, pollution, and a loss of public space.

When we step away from the wheel, even for a week, we gain a deeper understanding of how we can build a safer, more sustainable city together.

Will You Take the Challenge?

Whether you ride, roll, or walk, this week is about awareness and possibility. Imagine an LA where children can play outside without fear, where bikers ride confidently, and where drivers feel less stressed and more supported.

Week Without Driving is a celebration of community, sustainability, and safer streets for all. So the question is simple: are you ready to try it?

Happy Week Without Driving!

Every day, Californians approach intersections trusting that a red light means safety. Yet, for far too many, that trust is shattered in an instant. Red light running has become a silent epidemic across our state—claiming lives, shattering families, and leaving behind an enormous financial burden that few ever stop to consider.

Preventable Tragedies, Irreversible Loss

Traffic collisions are, by and large, preventable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has long recognized that we know where and why crashes happen—and that proven strategies exist to prevent them. Still, California continues to lose hundreds of lives each year to reckless drivers who ignore red lights.

The stories are heartbreaking.

• Ty Wells, a professional dancer who shared the stage with artists like Katy Perry and P!NK, lost his leg after being struck by a red-light runner in Los Angeles. In the same year, 69 people died, and nearly 400 others were severely injured at LA County intersections because someone decided not to stop.

• Neveah and Alinah Flores, just three and four years old, were killed days before Thanksgiving in Rialto when a pickup plowed through a red light and obliterated their family’s car.

• Maddux Greene and Jordan Galvez, had just graduated from Clovis East High School, but would never go to college because they were killed by a driver who ran a red-light in Kern County.

These lives were not lost to chance. Preventable decisions took them—and each story is a devastating reminder of the stakes.

A Crisis Growing Worse

California’s roads tell a grim story. SAFE reviewed the data. Since 2013, severe injuries and fatalities tied to intersection violations have surged 96.1%. In 2023 alone, red-light violations were linked to 195 deaths and more than 1,200 severe injuries. And these aren’t just drivers—the victims include cyclists and pedestrians, who made up nearly one in five of those killed or seriously injured.

Even seasoned drivers admit they hesitate after a light turns green, waiting to see if someone will barrel through the intersection. That hesitation isn’t paranoia—it’s survival.

The Most Dangerous Counties 

SAFE then examined intersection violations for each county between 2021 and 2023 per capita (per 100,000 people) and found the following:  

• The average number of severe injuries and fatalities for the state of California is 1,396 or 3.56 per 100,000 people.

• Los Angeles County, representing 25.1% of California’s population, has 31.1% (an average of 420 per year) of the severe injuries and fatalities due to intersection violations. This is the largest number compared to other counties, but not the largest per capita. 

• Inyo County, with a population of less than 19,000, averages only two people severely injured or killed per year due to intersection violations, but is ranked as the most dangerous per capita, with 10.78 per 100,000. 

When looking at only the largest counties in California by population (those with populations larger than 750,000), the five most dangerous counties per capita are (in this order): 

• Fresno County (6.86)

• San Francisco County (5.09)

• Kern County (4.94)

• Sacramento County (4.66)

• San Bernardino County (4.57)

• Los Angeles County (4.26)

SAFE also found that, in more rural counties, a higher proportion (sometimes all) of severe injuries and fatalities happened at four-way stop intersections, often on a stretch of rural road with little to no improvement made to slow down speeding cars. In contrast, in counties with larger populations, a majority of the incidents occurred at signaled intersections where drivers run red lights. 

The Price Tag of Neglect

The human toll is incalculable, but the economic cost is staggering. Using the CDC’s WISQARS Cost of Injury calculator, SAFE estimated the financial burden of intersection crashes between 2021 and 2023:

• $985 million in costs from severe injuries, nearly a third of it from medical expenses.

• $6.96 billion in costs from fatalities.

Altogether, more than $7.9 billion was drained from California in just three years. That’s money that could have gone into schools, hospitals, infrastructure, and community programs—but instead was lost to preventable crashes.

Why Enforcement and Engineering Both Matter

Engineering solutions—like improved signal timing, roundabouts, and protected turn lanes—can reduce risk. But no design can stop a driver determined to run a red-light. Enforcement is essential.

Unfortunately, California’s red light camera law is outdated and inefficient. Passed in 1995, it requires a clear photo of the driver’s face to issue a citation and results in fines that often surpass $400. California is the only state in the US that still requires a photo of the driver. This standard is technologically cumbersome, privacy-invasive, and legally challenging, with many citations thrown out due to a lack of clear legal evidence. This has led many cities to abandon their programs. The result? A law that fails to deter violators, while leaving communities vulnerable.

A Smarter Path Forward: SB 720

There is a better way. Senate Bill 720—the Safer Streets Program—offers a critical chance to modernize California’s red-light enforcement. Modeled after the state’s successful speed safety camera bill (AB 645), SB 720 would:

• Eliminate facial photography, capturing only license plates.

• Treat violations like parking tickets, keeping enforcement simple and privacy intact.

• Require revenue from citations to be reinvested into safety improvements—not city general funds.

• Reduce the cost of citations to a flat $100 for the first citation and increase fines for those who repeatedly run red lights in proportion to the number of violations.

This approach has already proven effective in other states. Red light camera programs across major U.S. cities have reduced fatal crashes by 21% and saved an estimated 1,300 lives in a single year. When programs are dismantled, crashes and fatalities climb again.

The Urgency of Now

The data is clear. The solutions exist. And yet, lives continue to be lost every day California delays reform. SB 720 is now in the Governor’s hands, representing a chance to save lives and reclaim billions of dollars for our communities.

The question is not whether red-light running is preventable—it is. The question is whether California will finally choose to act.

Because every number in these statistics is more than a data point, it’s a life, a family, and a future stolen. And the cost of inaction is simply too high.

Urge the Governor to Sign SB 720

Take this simple action to call, email, and/or tweet the Governor to sign this life-saving bill now.

Disclaimer: While this report will focus on facts and statistics, these stats represent real people whose lives have been lost or who have been seriously injured. Please don’t lose track of this. 

Individual stories of lives impacted are also included and may contain graphic descriptions, which could be triggering for some.

Traffic collisions are, by and large, preventable. Multiple studies have established this, and it is also recognized by the NHTSA. The fact that we let so many people die year after year due to traffic violence, when we know how people get into traffic collisions, and where they are most likely to get into a traffic collision. We have proven ways to prevent it, which is a testimony to how broken our system is. Nowhere is this more evident than in intersections across California, where hundreds of lives are lost and even more are seriously injured. While a single life lost is tragic, and even more so when it’s entirely preventable, what’s hidden is the cost of these preventable deaths to our communities and the state of California. 

Stories of Preventable Tragedies

A Professional Dancer Who Lost a Leg Due to Red Light Running

Ty Wells was a professional dancer in Los Angeles for over a decade, performing with global artists like Katy Perry, Shawn Mendes, and P!NK. On April 3, 2022, in Los Angeles County, his career and life trajectory were forever changed when an SUV driver ran a red light and struck him as he headed home from work.

The collision left Ty with a Diffuse Axonal Brain Injury, a coma that lasted six days, and ultimately the loss of his left leg below the knee. His right arm was paralyzed for months, and his memory so damaged he often couldn’t finish a conversation. For a 4.0 UCLA student and world-touring dancer, the devastation was immense.

Over time, Ty slowly regained movement in his hand and learned to walk with a prosthesis after a year, but the crash forced him to rebuild every part of his life. The same year Ty nearly lost his life, 69 people died, and 395 other people were severely injured just in Los Angeles County due to drivers ignoring red lights.

Source: Testimony from Ty Wells speaking on behalf of SB 720

FIRST SOME HISTORY

Traffic Signals: From Semaphores to Red, Yellow, and Green Lights

The first known traffic signal appeared in London in 1868, installed outside the Palace of Westminster, not the Houses of Parliament. It was a manually operated gas-lit signal with red and green arms, resembling a railway semaphore. Although innovative, it was short-lived—an explosion caused by the gas lamp severely injured the policeman operating it, and the device was removed.

Nonetheless, similar, albeit less hazardous, versions of the same manually operated semaphore traffic signals were installed more frequently throughout Europe and America as a means to manage the flow of carriages, horse riders, and those on bicycles. 

With the mass production of automobiles in the early 20th century, the need for safer and more efficient traffic management became urgent. In 1912, Lester Wire, a police officer in Salt Lake City, Utah, designed one of the earliest electric traffic signals, featuring red and green lights mounted on a pole. By 1914, Cleveland, Ohio, had installed the first electric traffic light system with red and green signals and an audible buzzer to indicate changes.

A significant breakthrough came in 1920 when William Potts, a Detroit police officer, introduced the first three-color traffic light, adding the yellow light to warn drivers before the signal changed. This innovation quickly spread across the United States and beyond, forming the foundation of modern traffic control.

Traffic Signal Laws: From Common Law to Red Light Cameras

While signals could help manage traffic, their effectiveness depended on whether or not people followed them. While traffic collisions at intersections did not often result in fatalities when two horse-drawn carriages slowly collided with each other, as automobiles took over the roads and became more powerful, faster, and more numerous, collisions at intersections began to result in increasingly tragic consequences. As a result, laws and enforcement methods evolved. 

1868 – The First Signal, No Laws Yet

The world’s first traffic signal was installed in London outside the Houses of Parliament in December 1868. It was gas-lit, manually operated, and resembled a railway semaphore. At this point, there were no traffic signal laws—compliance was enforced by police authority under general roadway rules.

Early 1900s – Local Ordinances in the U.S.

With the rise of automobiles, U.S. cities began experimenting with electric traffic signals. By the 1910s and 1920s, cities such as Cleveland (1914), Detroit (1920), and Los Angeles introduced traffic signals. The first stop sign was invented by Detroit police sergeant Harold “Harry” Jackson (1914).   Local governments passed municipal ordinances requiring drivers to obey them, marking the first legal recognition of signal and sign control.

1920s – State Motor Vehicle Codes

By the mid-1920s, states began to codify traffic signal obedience into motor vehicle codes. This was a critical step, moving traffic lights from local experiments into statewide legal frameworks.

1927 – Precursor to MUTCD (United States)

In the U.S., efforts toward standardization produced early manuals for traffic control devices in 1927. These weren’t laws in themselves, but they became the foundation for enforceable regulations, ensuring that signals across jurisdictions followed the same meanings and designs.

1930 – Road Traffic Act (United Kingdom)

The UK’s Road Traffic Act of 1930 legally recognized automatic traffic lights for the first time, granting local authorities the power to install and enforce them. By 1933, London had hundreds of signals operating under this national framework.

1935 – The First MUTCD (United States)

The publication of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) in 1935 standardized traffic signal design and placement nationwide. This made compliance with red, yellow, and green signals legally binding across the United States, replacing a patchwork of city ordinances with a national standard.

Mid–20th Century – Expansion & Pedestrian Rights

By the 1940s–1960s, most industrialized nations had established traffic laws that mandated obedience to traffic signals. Many also began to incorporate pedestrian signals and crosswalk rights. Laws expanded beyond vehicle control to cover pedestrian safety and right-of-way rules at signalized intersections.

1960s–1970s – Traffic Signal Automation

Technological improvements such as vehicle-actuated sensors and computerized timing systems were introduced, and traffic codes expanded accordingly. Laws began specifying the legality of amber light duration, signal preemption, and the integration of signals with larger urban traffic networks.

1980s–1990s – Red-Light Cameras Introduced

The next major legal shift came with the introduction of automated enforcement.

• The first red-light camera system is often credited to the Netherlands in 1964 (using radar triggers), though it wasn’t widely adopted.

• By the 1980s, modern photographic red-light enforcement had emerged in Australia, with Melbourne being a notable example (Melbourne, 1983).

• In the United States, New York City pioneered the use of red-light cameras in 1992 through special state legislation. These required explicit laws authorizing photo enforcement since traditional statutes assumed a police officer would witness violations.

Stories of Preventable Tragedies

Neveah & Alinah, Two Sisters Who Never Saw Thanksgiving

It was a quiet Sunday night, four days before Thanksgiving 2024, in Rialto, CA, when another family’s life was ripped apart in an instant. A mother and father were driving their two little girls—3-year-old Alinah and 4-year-old Neveah Flores— when they waited for the light to turn green. The mother pulled forward to make a simple left turn, but a speeding Dodge Ram blew through a red light. In a heartbeat, the pickup slammed into the family’s white Honda Accord with such force that it hurled the car into a tow truck nearby.

The impact was catastrophic. Both toddlers, secured in their car seats, suffered the brunt of the crash. One little girl was thrown from the vehicle. Despite desperate efforts, neither child survived. 

Their mother and father were left injured but survived, forced to live with the horror of witnessing the unthinkable—the loss of their two children, gone in a flash, not because of fate but because someone chose to run a red light. 

Neveah and Alinah were killed in San Bernardino County, where over the past three years, an average of 22 lives have been lost and 79 people have been seriously injured by drivers ignoring red lights. 

Source: Rialto PD, LA Times, SAFE’s Ghost Tire Memorial

HOW BAD IS RED LIGHT RUNNING IN CALIFORNIA?

With a Drop in Traffic Enforcement Came a Spike in Fatalities 

Traffic lights are simple to understand – red means stop, yellow means prepare to stop, and green means go. A majority of drivers follow the law and obey traffic signals.

Until 2020, police forces spent part of their time enforcing traffic laws, including ticketing drivers who ran red lights. Some have complained that this was done just to make ticket quotas, and some have complained that all traffic enforcement was racially biased (there is hard evidence that some traffic enforcement, especially in specific areas, was racially biased). However, investigative reporting by the NY Times has found that traffic enforcement across the country, especially in larger cities like Los Angeles, has dropped drastically since 2020. At the same time, per data from the FARS Database maintained by NHTSA, fatalities across California have spiked. While the data for 2023 shows a modest drop in fatalities, the number of fatalities is still 9% higher than in 2019 (before COVID-19) and 30.7% higher than in 2013.  

Intersection Violations Have Also Spiked Since 2013 

Using the UC Berkeley Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), SAFE investigated the number of fatalities and serious injuries that have occurred since 2013. These figures represent both red light violations and stop sign violations. While the focus of this report is on red-light violations, four-way intersections where a high number of severe injuries and fatalities occur should be made safer by installing a traffic signal; therefore, the data for this report is presented together.  

SAFE found that, not surprisingly, commensurate with an increase in traffic fatalities, there has been a drastic increase in fatalities and serious injuries due to intersection violations. In 2023 alone, red light violations were linked to 195 deaths and 1,209 severe injuries. While that's a slight decrease from 2022, which saw 259 deaths and 1,211 serious injuries, the numbers are still very concerning. Since 2013, there’s been a staggering 96.1% increase in serious injuries and fatalities due to intersection violations.  

In cities, the constant violations of red lights have become so severe that experienced drivers often wait a few seconds after the light turns green to watch and ensure a reckless driver hasn’t decided to run the red light. 

These red light and intersection violations are killing hundreds and severely injuring thousands each year, but it’s not just drivers who are being hit and killed. Analysis of data provided by TIMS shows that in 2023, 18.16% of those seriously injured or killed were pedestrians or cyclists. These figures make one thing clear: California is facing a worsening crisis on its roads, especially at intersections, and something needs to change.

Intersection Violations by County 

SAFE then examined intersection violations for each county between 2021 and 2023 and compared the number of severe injuries and fatalities at intersections by number and on a per capita basis (per 100,000 people), and this is what was found:

• Los Angeles County, representing 25.1% of California’s population, has 31.1% (an average of 420 per year) of the severe injuries and fatalities due to intersection violations. This is the largest amount compared to other counties, but not the largest per capita. 

• The average number of severe injuries and fatalities for the entire state of California is 3.56 per 100,000 people.. 

• Inyo County, with a population of less than 19,000, averages only two people severely injured or killed per year due to intersection violations, but is ranked as the most dangerous per capita, with 10.78 per 100,000.

• When looking at only the largest counties in California by population (those with populations larger than 750,000), the five most dangerous counties per capita are (in this order): 

• Fresno County (6.86)

• San Francisco County (5.09)

• Kern County (4.94)

• Sacramento County (4.66)

• San Bernardino County (4.57)

• Los Angeles County (4.26)

SAFE also found that, in more rural counties, a higher proportion (sometimes all) of severe injuries and fatalities happened at four-way stop intersections, often on a stretch of rural road with little to no improvements made to slow down speeding cars. In contrast, in counties with larger populations, a majority of the incidents occurred at signaled intersections where cars would run red lights. 

The Hidden Cost of Red Light Running in California

While the lives lost and those severely injured can be more easily measured, what tends to be overlooked is the enormous cost that these violations have on the State of California. SAFE was able to use the CDC’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) Cost of Injury calculator to figure out the economic impact of this issue. SAFE looked at:

• Fatalities

• The average medical costs, including the cost of medical transportation in California

•  The Average “Value of Statistical Life” Per Fatality in California. The Value of Statistical Life calculates a monetary estimate of the value of mortality risk reduction, as derived from research studies. 

• Severe Injuries

• The average lifetime medical costs (both in the hospital and afterwards), including the cost of medical transportation in the United States.

• The average “Work Loss Cost” for a nonfatal traffic collision in the United States. Work Loss Cost refers to the average amount of lost income due to being unable to work. 

• The average “Quality of Life Loss Cost” for a Nonfatal Traffic Collision in the United States. Quality of Life Loss Cost calculates the monetary burden that a disease or injury imposes on an individual, their family, and the community. 

Based on this data, SAFE calculated that between 2021 and 2023, red light and intersection violations resulting in severe injuries alone cost the state approximately $985 million, averaging $327.3 million per year, with 28% of that ($270.4 million) attributed to medical costs alone. 

Between 2021 and 2023, red light and intersection violations resulting in fatalities cost California an estimated $6.96 billion, averaging $2.32 billion per year.

Stories of Preventable Tragedies

They Just Graduated High School but Will Never Go to College

On 2 May 2025, at the intersection of Clovis and Shields in Fresno, a driver in a Land Rover barreled south on Clovis Avenue, ignoring the red light. At that exact moment, a Ford Focus lawfully entered the intersection on a green. The impact was devastating. The Ford spun violently, slammed into a fence, and burst into flames.

Inside were three young lives at the beginning of their journey. Good Samaritans rushed into the fire, managing to pull one passenger to safety. But for 18-year-old Maddux Greene and 19-year-old Jordan Galvez—both recent graduates of Clovis East High School—the crash was fatal. Greene died at the scene. Galvez succumbed to his injuries the next morning.

This wasn’t an “accident.” It was preventable. Every time a driver decides to run one, they gamble not just with their own future, but with the lives of everyone around them. On this night, that gamble claimed Maddux and Jordan.

With an average of 6.86 fatalities or serious injuries per capita, Fresno County is the deadliest large county (compared to those with more than 750,000 residents) in California for red light and intersection violations.

Source: Fresno Bee, ABC 30, UC Berkeley’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS)

SOLUTIONS

Strategies to Reduce Intersection Violations

There are three broad strategies to reduce intersection violations – enforcement, education, and engineering – but as human behavior is not always predictable, the degree of effectiveness of these individual strategies is also not always predictable, and to really save lives, the best practice is to use these in combination:

• Engineering reduces the opportunity for violations.

• Enforcement ensures accountability when violations occur.

• Education fosters a culture where drivers prioritize safety above all else.

Here’s how each solution works:

Enforcement

Enforcement makes the consequences of running red lights visible and immediate, deterring risky behavior. Common strategies include:

• Red Light Cameras: Automated cameras capture only license plates of violators, ensuring consistent enforcement even when officers aren’t present.

  California currently allows red light cameras under an archaic legal framework. This poorly written code is rarely used as an enforcement and educational tool. This is covered more in depth below.

• Increased Police Patrols: Focused traffic units stationed at high-risk intersections provide visible deterrence.

  As discussed above, with police forces struggling to maintain staff levels and priorities shifting away from traffic enforcement, this has been done less frequently since 2020. 

• Graduated Penalties: Escalating fines, points on licenses, or mandatory driver courses for repeat offenders.

  This could work if any enforcement is actually being done.

• Data-Driven Enforcement: Using crash and violation data to target the most dangerous intersections rather than random patrols or red light cameras at random intersections.

Education

Education raises awareness about the dangers of red-light running and alters social norms surrounding intersection safety.

• Driver Training Programs: Emphasizing intersection safety in driver’s ed, defensive driving courses, and fleet training.

  Although not the worst among US states, California's driver’s education requirements are more lenient compared to those of other developed countries, which tend to be statistically safer. For example, in England, which is four times safer than the United States, new drivers typically undergo 3-6 months of intensive theory and practical training before taking their written and practical tests. This includes 50% more theory training and twice the amount of practical training under the guidance of an instructor. Typically, new drivers must retake their tests several times, returning each time to review their theory and practical training before passing.

• School & Youth Outreach: Early education to shape long-term safe driving behaviors.

• Community Engagement: Involving neighborhood groups, victims’ families, or safety advocates in spreading the message (personal stories are powerful).

  This can make a significant difference if it is done extensively over an extended period, but it rarely is.

• Public Awareness Campaigns: PSAs, billboards, and social media campaigns featuring real-life consequences (crashes, injuries, fatalities). This messaging often works best when it appeals to self-interest (e.g., “Running a red light won’t save you time, but could cost you your life”).

  These campaigns have had mixed results, mainly depending on the extent to which they are implemented. A few billboards in a large community for a few months are unlikely to have a significant impact on the safety of intersections.

Engineering

Engineering changes the roadway environment to make intersection violations less likely and reduce the severity of crashes. Some of these solutions are inexpensive and easy to implement, while others require larger investments of funds that many cities may not have readily available. 

• Signal Timing Adjustments:

• Extended Yellow Intervals to give drivers more decision time.

• All-Red Clearance Intervals (brief all-red phase) to clear intersections before cross traffic moves.

• Improved Signal Visibility: Larger signal heads, overhead placement, and backplates with reflective borders.

• Advance Warning Lights: Flashing lights that warn drivers that a signal is about to turn red or that a stop sign is ahead.

• Intersection Redesign:

• Better signage and markings (“Signal Ahead” warnings, pavement arrows).

• Roundabouts (reduce angle crashes common in red-light running).

• Protected turn lanes with dedicated signals to avoid confusion.

• Roadway Environment Changes: Speed humps, raised crosswalks, and narrowing lanes near intersections to slow vehicles approaching the intersection.

Can We Solve Red Light Violations With Engineering Alone? 

As discussed above, there is a notable decrease in traffic enforcement, as police are not consistently enforcing the laws, and red light cameras are rarely utilized in California. California’s driver training program is considered lax compared to other states, and current education and awareness campaigns are often minimal or ineffective. That just leaves engineering solutions as a way to reduce red light violations. 

Can we solve red light violations with engineering solutions alone? Assuming the money magically appeared to improve every dangerous intersection, no engineering solution has been created that can prevent a driver from running a red light and causing a severe or fatal collision. Speed humps and raised crosswalks can help slow a vehicle from entering an intersection at high speeds. This works best at four-way stops, but they are recommended against on high-speed, high-capacity roads called arterials. Speed humps and raised crosswalks are also sometimes recommended against by local fire departments, as they believe the benefits of a slower, safer road don’t outweigh the drawbacks of potentially slower emergency response times.  

However, more fundamental to the question of whether any engineering solutions can prevent intersection violations is the issue of funding. There are so many intersections that are known to be dangerous (have a high incidence of severe or fatal crashes) that the cost of re-engineering every dangerous intersection is prohibitively expensive. 

For example, in the City of Los Angeles alone, an LA DOT report identified 90 intersections as being the most dangerous. The cost to improve the safety of these intersections can vary widely, ranging from $5,000 to more than $5,000,000. Below is a model “cost by level of intervention” table based on California / U.S. references, showing rough cost ranges for different scales of intersection safety upgrades. These are illustrative—not guarantees—and actual costs depend heavily on site conditions, right‐of‐way, utilities, and design complexity.

If the average cost to properly re-engineer an intersection is $400,000, then the cost to improve all 90 intersections would top 36 million, which is more than LA DOT spent on all road safety improvements in Los Angeles for 2023. 

Therefore, the answer to the question of whether engineering solutions alone can prevent intersection violations is clearly no. Preventing intersection violations still requires enforcement solutions and should be complemented by comprehensive education and awareness campaigns to address the issue entirely.

Stories of Preventable Tragedies

Three Teenagers Seriously Injured,  One Didn’t Make It.

On a Sunday evening, 16 July 2023, in Granite Bay, a community in Placer County, CA, a Jeep carrying three teenagers approached the intersection of Douglas Boulevard and Barton Road just after 5:30 p.m. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the Jeep ran a red light—and in that moment, fate collided with recklessness. (CBS News)

An SUV struck the Jeep forcefully, broadsiding it and flipping the vehicle. The impact was so violent that the rear-seat passenger—a 15-year-old girl—was partially ejected. (CBS News)

In the chaos, all three teens were rushed to a hospital. Unfortunately, the 15-year-old succumbed to her injuries. The other two teens sustained non-fatal injuries. (CBS News)

That night, what began as a ride with friends ended in irreversible tragedy.

CURRENT EFFORTS TO SAVE LIVES

While engineering solutions are hindered by a lack of funds, and police enforcement has been reduced to below minimum levels, red light cameras are effectively used in many other states to reduce intersection crashes, severe injuries, and fatalities. The stats speak for themselves. 

• According to the National Institutes of Health, the installation of red light safety cameras in large cities resulted in a 21% reduction in fatal red light violations and a 14% decrease in other types of fatal crashes at signalized intersections.

• An evaluation of the use of red light cameras across 9 locations in Fairfax, VA, found a 40% reduction in red light violations one year after the systems were installed. 

• Researchers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reviewed 79 cities with red light camera programs and estimated that these programs saved nearly 1,300 lives in a single year. 

• The same report found that shutting down such programs costs lives, with the rate of fatal red-light-running crashes shooting up 16% and red light running crashes of all types increased by 30%.

California’s Red Light Camera System: Outdated, Inefficient, and Failing

Although red light running and speeding remain severe and persistent problems on California roads, the state’s red light camera law hasn’t had a significant update since it was first introduced in 1995. The system is outdated and plagued with issues, prompting many cities across the state to shut down their red light camera programs altogether. 

The biggest problem with California's current red light camera law is that it requires a clear photo of the driver's face to issue a citation. This may have made sense in 1995, but it's created a mess. Cities spend thousands on camera systems, only to have most tickets thrown out because the footage is not clear enough to identify the driver. It's expensive, ineffective, and an invasion of privacy to have cameras trying to photograph people's faces.

Furthermore, the financial burden is substantial. Fines can reach up to $500 per violation, and because these violations are considered moving violations, these citations can affect both a driver’s record and insurance rates, but only if they aren’t dismissed in court. As a result, many cities are unable to cover the basic operating costs due to the number of unpaid violations, making the current red light camera program both inefficient and ineffective.

Revision and Revamp are Needed

Severe injuries and fatalities due to red light and intersection violations have almost doubled since 2013. Yet, due to the lack of revisions to California's current automated red light camera enforcement system, it has led to thousands of preventable serious injuries and fatalities and cost the state billions of dollars. California’s red light camera system needs to be revised to save lives, and this is where SB 720, the Safer Streets Program, comes in. 

SB 720 is modeled after AB 645 – Speed Safety Systems (another bill SAFE helped pass), which is considered the gold standard across the US for implementing automated enforcement correctly. SB 720 is designed to address privacy concerns by prohibiting systems from taking photos of the driver’s face while also enhancing enforcement. Instead of trying to identify the driver, it works like a parking ticket; the citation goes to the car's owner. The camera captures the license plate and the violation, nothing more. No facial recognition, no privacy invasion, just straightforward enforcement.

The bill also addresses the financial issue. Currently, cities often use revenue from red light cameras to supplement their general budgets, which gives the whole thing a misleading appearance of a cash grab. Under SB 720, that revenue must be reinvested in traffic safety, including improved signals, pedestrian enhancements, and other intersection safety measures. 

SB 720 doesn’t replace traditional police enforcement, and it certainly doesn’t replace education. It would increase the number of basic strategies that can be used, from a few engineering tools to engineering and enforcement, and it would help to provide funds to implement other, more expensive, engineering tools in more intersections. This can only help to save lives. How many lives depend on how many of the most dangerous intersections would use this technology after SB 720 is passed? 

SB 720 is currently under consideration at the Governor’s office. It represents a critical opportunity to revamp California’s red light camera program in a way that prioritizes public safety and looks to save lives. It's a step California urgently needs to take. 

So, the final question is: will the Governor of California continue to allow lives to be lost when an easy solution is waiting for his approval?

On Friday, August 15, 2025, the Pearblossom Highway 138 Safe Roads Initiative Team took a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to improve safety along Pearblossom Highway (PB HWY 138).

Members of our community, along with Assembly member Juan Carrillo and several key decision makers from agencies including CalTrans and LA County Department of Public Works (DPW), came together for a comprehensive, on-the-ground field tour.

The Pearblossom Safe Roads Initiative was born out of a need to identify safety issues with Highway 138 and its intersections with local LA County roads. These intersections are life lines of the local community.

Our aim is to create safe paths of travel in order to reduce traffic violence. In the last year-and-a-half alone, the corridor has seen 11 fatalities and even more crashes as a result of unsafe road conditions. HWY 138 is in the high desert corridor and is a main route for state commerce logistics between the 5 and the 15 freeways, so it acts as a major roadway for locals and people traveling through the community.

The 10-mile tour began at 82nd Street near Alpine Elementary and concluded at 165th Street in Llano. Along the way, we made important stops at every major intersection where changes have been proposed by CalTrans and LA Co DPW. At each location, we shared detailed accounts of past accidents, injuries, and tragic fatalities, including the names and ages of those lost, to reinforce the urgent need for action.

Following the tour, we gathered at the Pearblossom Community Center to continue discussions and build stronger connections between representatives from the various agencies. This meeting was not only productive but marked a renewed commitment to collaboration in pursuit of our shared vision: a safer PB HWY 138 for all.

Cyclist Safety Must Be Part of the Conversation:

As we work toward a safer Pearblossom Highway, it’s critical that we also consider the needs of cyclists who use, and have the legal right to use, this corridor. Currently, several stretches of the highway lack clearly marked shoulders, and there are no signs alerting motorists to share the road with cyclists.

According to California Vehicle Code § 21200, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of motor vehicles. That means they are legally entitled to ride on most roads, including PB HWY 138. However, without signage or designated space, cyclists remain vulnerable, especially in areas with narrow lanes and limited visibility.

One recommended improvement is the installation of “Share the Road” signage along key segments of the highway. Increasing visibility through better striping, wider shoulders, and public awareness can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and ensure safer travel for all.

Safety isn’t just about vehicles, it’s about everyone who shares the road. Cyclists deserve the same consideration and protection as any other road user.

On April 18, 2024, tragedy struck Historic South Central when 12-year-old Derrick Serrano was hit and killed by a speeding driver at the intersection of Vernon Avenue and Wadsworth Avenue. His loss devastated his family and community and galvanized neighbors into action.

Over the past year, SAFE has partnered with ACCE LA, a grassroots community organization, to demand change at this dangerous intersection and bring awareness to the need for safer intersections across South LA. Together, we organized families and insisted that the city act before another life was lost.

An example of this outspoken advocacy was on April 18th, 2025, the anniversary of Derrick being struck and killed by a speeding driver, SAFE joined ACCE in a loud protest and media event at Vernon and Wadsworth. Several media outlets covered this event, with a clear demand for a stoplight to protect the children walking to school.

This summer, after advocacy, Councilmember Curren Price announced and approved funding for a long-awaited and much-needed traffic signal at Vernon and Wadsworth. While no signal can undo the heartbreak of losing Derrick, this step marks an important victory for his family, classmates, and the broader South Central community. We thank the councilmember for making this important step forward in the name of safety.

SAFE and ACCE LA will continue working alongside residents to ensure this project is completed swiftly and to keep pushing for safer streets across Los Angeles. Over 300 pedestrians across Los Angeles are hit and killed every year. That is unsustainable and can not be accepted any long. No parent should fear that their child won’t make it home from school.

The wait is over—Streets, Art, SAFE is officially back for the 2025–2026 school year!

This free, high school educational program blends art, storytelling, and real-world road safety messages.

Alongside the flagship film and poster competitions, this year brings fresh challenges, expanded learning opportunities, special award categories, new sponsors, and of course, some amazing prizes.

Why the arts? Because when students create film, posters, or Public Service Announcements (PSAs), they’re not just learning about road safety—they’re practicing communication, problem solving, teamwork, and critical thinking. Visual storytelling challenges students to analyze information, distill a message, and express it in a way that connects with others. For teachers, it’s a chance to see students apply their creativity to a real-world issue, building skills in research, writing, media literacy, and the visual arts all at once.

Spotlight on the Main Competition

In its 10th year, at the heart of Streets, Art, SAFE is the traditional film and poster competition, where students create their own Public Service Announcements (PSAs)—30 second films or posters/billboards designed to raise awareness about road safety. These projects combine research, storytelling, and visual arts skills to communicate powerful messages. The goal is simple: give young people the tools to express their creativity while sparking meaningful conversations about road safety.

Two Brand-New Challenges

This year also introduces two themed challenges for students ready to take on something new.

The SAFE Around Trains Challenge – Sponsored by Metrolink, this high-energy challenge gives students 10 days to create a 30-second vertical PSA about train safety, with the rare opportunity to film by real train tracks under full safety supervision. Winning videos will air during See Tracks? Think Train Week. Registration is open now, closes August 20, and spots are first-come, first-served.
Details at: streetsareforeveryone.org/safe-around-trains-challenge.

The Week Without Driving Challenge – Students commit to create a PSA in 3 weeks for the  Week Without Driving—30 seconds, 60 seconds, or a short film up to 7 minutes—capturing the benefits of using public transportation, or encouraging people to walk or bike. From cleaner air to unexpected travel challenges, the stories will show how transportation choices shape our lives.

Learning That Goes Beyond the Classroom

To help students produce their best work, Streets, Art, SAFE is collaborating with AAA on Dare to Prepare workshops on safe driving, as well as webinars led by industry professionals and street safety experts on creating impactful PSAs.

We’ve also introduced Office Hours, where participants and teachers can receive direct feedback or get their questions answered by the Streets, Art, SAFE Program Coordinator.

These opportunities make it easier to turn a great idea into a polished, portfolio-ready piece.

Prizes Worth Competing For

Prizes include cash awards and recognition for both students and their schools. The new SAFE Around Trains and Week Without Driving challenges also have their own prizes—so there’s more than one way to win.

Winning entries will be showcased publicly, giving students a real-world platform for their work.

Powered by Partnerships

We’re excited to welcome returning sponsors, including Honda, AAA, and Waymo whose involvement has brought additional resources and visibility to student work. 

Tranzito Vector, LA DOT, Street Food Cinema, GSTV, and DMV have also come to the table to assist in distributing student’s winning PSAs across the state!

Free to Enter, Ready to Begin

Registration for the 2025-2026 Streets, Art, SAFE Competition opened August 18th. Whether entering the main PSA competition or one of the new themed challenges, high school students can create work that informs, connects, and shapes how people think about road safety.

Follow @streetsartsafe for updates, resources, and a peek behind the scenes at the creative process. For questions or more information about Streets, Art, SAFE you can contact Constanza@StreetsAreForEveryone.org