Safe Streets Map
Updated 2026-10-01

What California is doing about traffic deaths

Cities have promised to end traffic deaths. The Legislature has passed some laws and vetoed others. Below is what the record shows, each with its date and a link to the source.

Cities that promised zero

Several California cities have adopted “Vision Zero”, a pledge to end traffic deaths by a set year. Here is each pledge next to the people who died on that city's roads in the years since.

Deaths on each city's roads, 2016–2024, from the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). FARS counts deaths up to 30 days after a crash and includes freeways, so a city's own Vision Zero figures differ a little. The 2015 file has no city names, so the count starts in 2016. Counts, not rates: they say nothing about how many people travel there.

What lawmakers did

10 entries on speed, cameras, street design and drunk driving since 2019: 7 signed, 2 vetoed, 1 that did not advance (one entry covers a four-bill package). A selection, not every bill. Dates, chapters, votes and descriptions are from the Legislature's own site, and veto messages are the governor's.

  1. 2026SignedSB 907, AB 1546, AB 1685, AB 1687

    Repeat drunk-driving penalties

    A four-bill package. SB 907: courts must advise a person who pleads to a lesser offense in certain DUI cases that a future DUI could bring a murder charge, and hit-and-run within 10 years of a prior DUI, reckless driving or vehicular manslaughter conviction carries tougher penalties. AB 1546: a second or third DUI conviction within 10 years can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, and a fourth or later is a felony. AB 1685: 3 DMV violation points for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, from January 1, 2031. AB 1687: the DMV must revoke the license, for 72 months and with an ignition interlock device, of a person convicted of DUI causing injury who has four or more prior convictions within 10 years.

    Signed September 25, 2026 (Chapters 443–446)

    SB 907 · AB 1546 · AB 1685 · AB 1687

  2. 2025Did not advanceAB 891

    Quick-build safety projects on state highways

    Would have set up a pilot for Caltrans to expedite low-cost projects, including bicycle and pedestrian improvements, on state highways: guidance by December 31, 2027 and at least six projects funded by December 31, 2028.

    Held under submission in the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 29, 2025, so it did not reach a Senate vote · Final votes: Assembly 61–17 (June 4, 2025), Senate Transportation Committee 11–4 (July 9, 2025)

    Bill status

  3. 2025SignedSB 720

    Red-light cameras

    Lets cities and counties set up automated enforcement programs for traffic signal violations, with civil fines from $100 for a first violation to $500 for repeat violations within three years, an administrative hearing and appeal process, reduced penalties for low-income drivers, and limits on the photos taken.

    Signed October 13, 2025 (Chapter 782) · Final votes: Assembly 68–8, Senate 33–3

    Bill status

  4. 2025SignedAB 289

    Speed cameras in highway work zones

    Lets Caltrans use up to 35 speed safety systems in state highway work zones through January 1, 2032, only when Caltrans workers are present. Civil fines run from $50 for 11–15 mph over the limit to $500 for 100 mph or more, with no license points.

    Signed October 13, 2025 (Chapter 684) · Final votes: Senate 36–3, Assembly 69–1

    Bill status

  5. 2024VetoedSB 961

    Speed warnings in new cars

    Would have required every new passenger vehicle, truck and bus sold or leased in California from the 2030 model year to carry a passive intelligent speed assistance system that gives a one-time visual and audio signal when the vehicle goes more than 10 mph over the speed limit.

    Vetoed September 28, 2024 · Final votes: Senate 26–9, Assembly 47–17

    The governor’s veto message said: “adding California-specific requirements would create a patchwork of regulations that undermines this longstanding federal framework” and “NHTSA is also actively evaluating intelligent speed assistance systems, and imposing state-level mandates at this time risks disrupting these ongoing federal assessments.”

    Bill status · Veto message

  6. 2024SignedSB 960

    Complete streets on state highways

    Requires Caltrans to set targets and performance measures for complete streets assets (bicycle, pedestrian and transit priority facilities), to commit to four-year targets for adding them to State Highway Operation and Protection Program projects, to adopt a transit policy for state highways, and to streamline permit review for local complete streets projects by January 1, 2027.

    Signed September 27, 2024 (Chapter 630) · Final votes: Senate 31–9, Assembly 58–17

    Bill status

  7. 2023SignedAB 645

    Speed cameras in six cities

    A pilot, until January 1, 2032, that lets Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, Long Beach and San Francisco use speed cameras. A violation starts at 11 mph over the limit: $50 for 11–15 mph (a warning for the first one), $100 for 16–25 mph, $200 for 26 mph or more, and $500 for 100 mph or more.

    Signed October 13, 2023 (Chapter 808) · Final votes: Senate 29–6, Assembly 62–9

    Bill status

  8. 2022SignedAB 2147

    Stops of people walking

    Bars a peace officer from stopping a pedestrian for specified traffic infractions unless a reasonably careful person would see an immediate danger of a collision with a moving vehicle. Requires a study by January 1, 2028 of whether this has affected pedestrian safety.

    Signed September 30, 2022 (Chapter 957) · Final votes: Senate 29–7, Assembly 51–16

    Bill status

  9. 2021SignedAB 43

    Speed limits

    Sets a 25 mph limit in business and residence districts on state highways, lets Caltrans and local authorities set limits of 20 or 15 mph on some streets, and extends how long an engineering speed survey stays valid from 7 to 14 years.

    Signed October 8, 2021 (Chapter 690) · Final votes: Senate 30–5, Assembly 68–5

    Bill status

  10. 2019VetoedSB 127

    Complete streets on state highways (first attempt)

    Would have required Caltrans to prioritize safe and connected facilities for people walking, biking and using transit on State Highway Operation and Protection Program projects, starting with the 2022 program, in places such as state conventional highways within city limits.

    Vetoed October 12, 2019; the veto was sustained January 13, 2020 · Final votes: Assembly 58–17, Senate 28–12

    The governor’s veto message said: “I fully support improving facilities to increase walking, biking and accessing public transit. However, this bill creates a prescriptive and costly approach to achieve these objectives.” It pointed to his Executive Order N-19-19 and new leadership at Caltrans instead.

    Bill status · Veto message

Not covered yet

Carmakers (recalls and federal investigations), federal regulators (rules and when they take effect) and the courts (what happens after a deadly crash) are not on this page yet. If you know of a pledge, law or decision that should be here, or find something wrong, tell us on the contact page and include the source.

Common questions

Which California cities have pledged to end traffic deaths?
San Francisco (2014, goal year 2024); Los Angeles (August 2015, goal year 2025); San Diego (2015, goal year 2025); San Jose (2015, goal year 2040); Sacramento (January 2017, goal year 2027); Long Beach (May 2016, goal year 2026). Each pledge is linked on this page.
How many people died in traffic crashes in those cities after the pledges?
San Francisco: 2016 36, 2017 25, 2018 27, 2019 39, 2020 32, 2021 34, 2022 42, 2023 34, 2024 47. Los Angeles: 2016 329, 2017 294, 2018 285, 2019 277, 2020 292, 2021 340, 2022 356, 2023 341, 2024 308. San Diego: 2016 96, 2017 76, 2018 99, 2019 89, 2020 105, 2021 119, 2022 119, 2023 97, 2024 109. San Jose: 2016 63, 2017 54, 2018 62, 2019 83, 2020 63, 2021 80, 2022 66, 2023 63, 2024 54. Sacramento: 2016 50, 2017 69, 2018 52, 2019 49, 2020 45, 2021 72, 2022 77, 2023 71, 2024 49. Long Beach: 2016 36, 2017 28, 2018 34, 2019 38, 2020 34, 2021 37, 2022 59, 2023 42, 2024 37. These are deaths on each city's roads from the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System, which counts deaths up to 30 days after a crash and includes freeways, so a city's own figures can differ.
What has the California Legislature done about traffic deaths?
This page lists 10 entries since 2019: 7 signed, 2 vetoed, 1 that did not advance. Examples: speed cameras in six cities (AB 645, signed 2023), complete streets on state highways (SB 960, signed 2024), speed warnings in new cars (SB 961, vetoed 2024). The list is not complete.
Back to the harm cars do in California

Sources: each entry links its own, all government: city and agency pages, California Legislative Information, the governor's veto messages and NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Updated 2026-10-01. How the data works.