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We need to have more hard conversations about the life and death stakes of traffic safety. /1
Speed kills. In Oakland speed is the primary cause of 25% of all traffic deaths. /2
Like too many other public health issues, traffic crashes have disproportionate, inequitable harms, including on our Black and Asian-American communities. /3
The magnitude of this challenge is great, but we know that we can make significant progress by applying proven safety tools. We’re designing a safer transportation system every day and focusing first on the streets where the most severe and fatal crashes take place. /4
While street design improvements can result in significant safety improvements, engineering alone isn’t always enough to prevent severe and fatal crashes, and there are far more improvements needed than our resources allow. /5
In addition to crash inequities, we also know there are urgent racial justice issues in the enforcement of dangerous driving behaviors. Our partners in the Oakland Police Department have made progress reducing racial disparities in traffic stops, but there is more work to do. /6
We can develop solutions that stop perpetuating some of these inequities. One potential solution is Speed Safety Systems. /7
As described in @DavidChiu's CA Assembly Bill 550, radar detectors would be placed on high-speed streets, which would capture vehicles exceeding the speed limit by over 10 mph. /8
Systems would have warning signs notifying people to slow down. The goal is for drivers to obey the speed limit, not to give citations. /9
There would also be a warning period as people adjust, then vehicle owners would receive citations in the mail similar to parking tickets, meaning no points on your license, no police officer interaction, and no excessive fees. /10
Discounts would be provided for those who qualify as low-income. Any program revenue would pay for the program to operate. Excess revenue—if there is any—would fund street safety improvements to prevent speeding in the first place. /11
There wouldn’t be any images of drivers’ faces, and all images and records would be confidential and subject to local and state privacy laws and guidance. /12
We know that this is a complex topic, which is why we’re inviting you to be a part of the conversation. Councilmembers @ShengForOakland and @Kaplan4Oakland are hosting a Road Safety Townhall on Wed 4/14 at 5:30pm.
Register and share questions here: https://fb.me/e/3xY0GTLXe /13
Register and share questions here: https://fb.me/e/3xY0GTLXe /13
The data are clear that speed safety systems work to reduce speeding and associated injuries: NYC found that total crashes declined by 15% and fatalities by 55% on streets where safety systems were installed. Results are similar in other cities with programs. /14
We also know that people’s behavior changes as a result: NYC also found that over a three year period, 81% of drivers who received a first violation did not receive a second. /15
We believe we can work together with our communities to develop a Speed Safety System that prioritizes equity and privacy, while also advancing safety and prevent the needless loss of life and disability that plagues our streets. /16
Please join us in sharing your thoughts and questions: https://fb.me/e/3xY0GTLXe /end
