Editorial: San Rafael’s ‘vision zero’ traffic safety plan sets good targets

It’s probably to be expected that the Marin city that gets the most traffic also has the highest number of injury accidents involving motorists and pedestrians and bicyclists.

Numbers, the kind of traffic and congestion play a role.

But San Rafael is working to defy those odds.

The city has adopted a road safety plan focused on eliminating traffic related fatalities and serious injuries.

Its “vision zero” strategy, based on a program borrowed from Sweden, requires the city to take a hard look at its roadways to make improvements for all users.

The Transportation Authority of Marin in 2018 committed $6 million for capital improvements aimed at improving overall safety.

The need is apparent in the numbers.

Between 2017 and 2021, there have been 28 fatalities on local streets and roads and 199 severe injuries.

Of those fatalities and injuries, 19% involved cyclists and 14% involved pedestrians, according to TAM’s data.

In San Rafael, for example, 19% of injury or fatal accidents involved a pedestrian and 16% involved a bicyclist.

Of the pedestrian accidents, 74% occurred when the person was in a crosswalk — which is supposed to provide someone on foot increased safety in crossing the street.

Reducing those numbers to zero is the objective of the strategy adopted by San Rafael and TAM.

The identified trouble spots, based on TAM’s data, are downtown — along Third Street, from Lincoln Avenue to Grand Avenue, Lincoln from Second Street to Mission Avenue and Third Street, from E Street to Lincoln Avenue.

The city has also identified other areas for “vision zero” strategies, including Second Street from Lincoln to Grand, Fourth Street from E Street to Lincoln and beyond downtown, in Terra Linda, Manuel T. Freitas Parkway, from Del Presidio to Las Gallinas Avenue.

If City Hall reaches out to the public for other trouble spots, it is likely the list could be even longer.

The city is hoping that education and awareness, using emergent safety-enhancing technology, enforcement and possible engineering improvements will help address those statistics and make city streets safer for all who rely on them.

“Vision zero” sets the stage — as well as the right target — for the city’s safety initiative.

City efforts have already been underway, but funding is being sought for more work to support planning and construction. Staff’s proactive approach and the amount of traffic that rolls up and down the city’s streets should enhance San Rafael’s position in the competition for grants.

The statistics clearly show there is a need for addressing traffic and pedestrian safety issues.

San Rafael is on the right track. Statistics, if not the tragedies they reflect, show that promoting safety cannot be overemphasized.