A Sacramento City Council committee unanimously voted this week to bring a Pedestrian Safety State of Emergency to the full council over the number of fatal pedestrian and cyclist crashes on city streets.
If approved, the state of emergency would require the city to run a number of public safety campaigns focused on distracted driving in addition to providing the public with regular updates on progress made.
Vice Mayor Caity Maple and her team drew up the proposal after hearing from community members and transportation advocates. It also had the support of Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Mayor Pro Tem Karina Talamantes.
“It is vital that we come together to prioritize the safety of our residents and take decisive steps toward safer streets in Sacramento,” Steinberg said in a prepared statement.
There have been 167 motor vehicle crash-related deaths this year, according to the Sacramento County coroner's office. Out of the 167 deaths, 18 were cyclists and 44 were pedestrians.
“These numbers are not just statistics; they represent real people — children, parents, grandparents — members of our community whose lives have been irrevocably changed,” Maple said.
City staff are now working on the proposal to evaluate its policy and financial impacts. Once the staff report is completed, the entire City Council will hear it.
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