DANGEROUS BY DESIGN: PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN CALIFORNIA

Pedestrian accidents are one of the leading causes of death and injuries for children in California, and they are a major public health problem statewide. Pedestrian fatalities make up almost 20% of all traffic accident deaths in California. An analysis of 1999 data indicates that California spent almost $4 billion on pain and suffering, lost economic productivity and medical expenses. Yet the state spent less than 1% on pedestrian safety. This is less than any other state. This report elaborates on the problem of pedestrian safety in California, describes the pedestrian victims (including ethnic groups and age), discusses how policies favor the motorist at the expense of pedestrians, and presents recommendations for increasing pedestrian safety.