Background

Preliminary data from the California Highway Patrol and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) show that 3,866 people died in traffic crashes on California’s roadways in 2020, the highest number since 2008. This represents a 7.2 percent increase in fatalities from 2019, despite a 14.9 percent decrease in vehicle miles traveled due to the pandemic. This mirrors the 7.2 percent increase in traffic fatalities across the US at the time. Recognizing the need for change to combat increasing fatalities—particularly among vulnerable road users and underserved communities—transportation leaders in California integrated equity and the Safe System Approach as Guiding Principles into their Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) update, called “The Pivot.” The SHSP includes a commitment to reach zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries in California by 2050.