Vision Zero report: 2022 saw spike in traffic fatalities; quick builds linked to fewer pedestrian and bike collisions

San Francisco city agencies on Tuesday presented 2022 data showing a troubling rise in traffic fatalities and described near‑term steps to accelerate safety interventions on high‑injury corridors.

Iris Hsu, lead epidemiologist for Vision Zero at the Department of Public Health, said 2022 recorded the most traffic fatalities on San Francisco streets since 2007 and that 59% of those fatalities occurred on the Vision Zero High Injury Network. “Pedestrians are consistently the most vulnerable road users in San Francisco and account for a majority of all fatalities in 2022,” Hsu said.

Jamie Parks of SFMTA summarized street‑design tools and the agency’s quick‑build program, which installs lower‑cost pedestrian and bike safety measures more quickly than full street reconfigurations. Parks cited a paired analysis of segments with quick builds installed in 2020: total collisions and injuries fell significantly, and bicycle‑ and pedestrian‑related collisions declined by over 30%.

Parks also noted pending state legislation that would authorize speed‑safety cameras (Assembly Bill 645). If signed by the governor, the bill would allow up to 33 automated cameras under a five‑year pilot in San Francisco, and Parks said the agency was prepared to begin a planning process as soon as authority is available.

Walk San Francisco urged faster deployment. Lianne Chang said quick builds are “low hanging fruit” and called on city agencies to complete improvements at 900 high‑injury intersections by December 2024.

Commissioners asked how the agencies measure severe injuries and emerging risks from new mobility modes (e‑scooters, autonomous vehicles). Hsu described efforts to link police, trauma‑registry and 911 ambulance data to better capture severe injuries and said a Q1 release of an updated severe‑injury report is planned.

What’s next: SFMTA will continue quick‑build rollouts, prepare for a possible speed‑camera pilot pending state approval, and DPH and partners will finalize a predictive model and improved data linkages to guide interventions.