February 23, 2025 #1 Local News, Forum, Information and Event Source for Venice Beach, California.

Despite Vision Zero Traffic Deaths in LA Are Soaring

2021 deadliest year in nearly two decades for pedestrians in LA

By Sam Catanzaro

In 2015, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti launched Vision Zero, intended to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025. More than five years after the launch of this program, traffic deaths in the city are soaring, reaching their highest number in nearly 20 years. 

294 people were killed in traffic collisions in 2021, LA List recently reported on Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) data. Not only does this represent a 22 percent increase from 2020, but it is also the highest toll since 2003. Around half of those killed in these collisions were not in vehicles themselves, including 132 pedestrians and 18 cyclists. Furthermore, 1,479 traffic crashes resulting in severe injuries occurred on LA streets in 2021, a 30 percent increase from 2020. 

Traffic fatalities increased across the city in 2021, except for the LAPD Central bureau area, which includes downtown LA and Silverlake. 

Overall, since Garcetti launched Vision Zero, traffic deaths in Los Angeles have increased 58 percent. Since then, traffic deaths have jumped 58%. So how did this get this bad? 

Colin Sweeney, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), told LA List that one common factor is “a deadly combination of dramatic increases in speeding and reckless driving.” Between January 2020 and June 2021, 78 crashes involved a vehicle traveling at unsafe speeds. This is around the same number (80) of unsafe speed crashes occurring in a longer two-year period between 2018 and 2020. Likewise, between January 2020 and June 2021, 50 fatal crashes involved a motorist striking a fixed object, compared that 39 such collisions for all of 2018 and 2019 combined.

In addition, Sweeney cited to LA List “design trends that make cars deadlier than ever before for individuals outside of the vehicle, with heavier frames and the addition of distracting features.”

2021 data shows that while the number of crashes resulting in a death where the driver was under the influence remained the same, the number of DUI crashes resulting in serious injuries increased by 31 percent. 

According to Sweeny, since the launch of Vision Zero, LADOT has completed 5,500 safety improvements on the city’s High Injury Network. This is the 6 percent of city streets that account for 70 percent of deaths and severe injuries for pedestrians. But pedestrian activists say this is not enough and the city’s approach is not working. 

“The formula and the campaign that is being run by the city in terms of reducing traffic fatalities to zero is a failure,” Damian Kevitt, executive director of the nonprofit Streets are for Everyone told LA List. “The biggest factor is there’s not the political will to make the hard decisions to save lives.”

Reflective of this lack of political will is the lack of funding to address to issue. In 2017, LADOT director Seleta Reynolds estimated the department needed around $80 million to reduce traffic deaths by 20 percent by the end of that year. The City Council-approved budget, however for that year only gave LADOT $27 million in funding towards implementing Vision Zero. That year, traffic deaths dropped citywide by only five percent. And since, this number has decreased. The 2021-2022 City budget provides Vision Zero projects around $13.7 million, according to data from Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin

Mayor Garcetti’s office could not immediately be reached for comment.

Related Posts

Breaking News: L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Removes Fire Chief, Appoints Interim Leader

February 21, 2025

February 21, 2025

Kristin Crowley Removed as Fire Chief; Veteran Firefighter Steps in as Interim Chief Mayor Karen Bass removed Los Angeles Fire...

(Video) Rifkin Raanan Dentistry Uses Expertise and Artistry to Give Patients Their Dream Smiles

February 21, 2025

February 21, 2025

For More Info, Go To https://rodneyraanan.com/ For More Info, Go To https://t.co/OTBZO5Nzje pic.twitter.com/iipOncogw8 — Yo! Venice! (@YoVenice) February 21, 2025

Three Arrested in Fatal Santa Monica Stabbing

February 21, 2025

February 21, 2025

The attack left one man dead and another injured Three men have been arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing...

Despite Venue Loss in Fire, Chamber Music Palisades to Hold Concert This Weekend

February 21, 2025

February 21, 2025

The program includes selections from Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor and Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major Chamber...

THIS WEEKEND: VNC to Host Candidate Meet and Greet

February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

Attendees can hear from candidates about their platforms, ask questions, and learn about the election Residents of Venice will have...

Officials Issue Water Use Warning at Venice Beach Due to High Bacteria

February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

Similar warnings have been issued for multiple locations across Los Angeles County The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health...

Pacific Coast Highway Reopens with Restrictions for Fire-Impacted Communities in Palisades, Malibu

February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

Residents, essential businesses, and school buses regain access as PCH reopens with lane reductions, speed limits, and checkpoint requirements amid...

New Wine Bar and Market Set to Open in Marina del Rey

February 19, 2025

February 19, 2025

Those interested in attending its soft opening can sign up for an invitation on the restaurant’s website A new destination...

Ōwa to Host Coffee & Flower Pop-Up in Venice

February 19, 2025

February 19, 2025

The restaurant blends traditional flavors with locally sourced ingredients Japanese-inspired restaurant Ōwa is set to host a Coffee & Flower...

First Palisades Property Clears Wildfire Debris Ahead of Schedule, Mayor Announces

February 19, 2025

February 19, 2025

Officials have touted the cleanup effort as the fastest of its kind in California history The first property in the...

L.A. County Approves Eviction Protections for Fire-Affected Business Owners and Workers

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

New policy grants six-month relief to tenants and small business owners impacted by January fires, with $10 million in rental...

Venice Art Exhibit Raises $40K for Fire-Affected Artists, Gallery Continuing

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Proceeds from artwork sales will go to the Grief and Hope Fund The independent Venice gallery ARCANE Space is rallying...

Community Tree and Native Planting Event Set for Venice

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Participants are encouraged to bring gloves and gardening tools Volunteers will gather in Venice on Saturday, Feb. 22, for a...

Inglewood Man Arrested in January Homicide in Santa Monica

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Month-Long Investigation Leads to Arrest A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred last month...

Palisades Athletic Community Seek to Rebuild Programs, Fundraise for New Equipment

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

Local teams and organizations have launched fundraising efforts to help restore normalcy for affected players and ensure they can return...