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San Francisco updates Vision Zero strategy, highlights hospital data link and equity focus
Summary
San Francisco Department of Public Health staff told the Health Commission the Vision Zero program has cut traffic deaths to a record low and is now using hospital trauma data to target a 13% "high injury network" that accounts for most severe injuries; officials flagged AB342 (automated speed enforcement) as stalled by union opposition.
Megan Weir, director of the Program on Health Equity and Sustainability in the Department of Public Health, told the San Francisco Health Commission that Vision Zero has shifted the city from a behavior-focused approach to system design that treats traffic deaths as preventable. She said the city recorded its fewest traffic fatalities in 2017 since records began in 1915.
Weir said the department has linked hospital trauma data from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital with police collision reports to produce a more complete picture of severe injuries and to improve injury severity assessment. That work helped identify a "high injury network" covering roughly 13 percent of city streets where about three-quarters of severe and fatal injuries are concentrated, she said. "Using hospital data, we're able to use whether or not someone is admitted to the hospital as well as clinical scores to better assess outcomes," Weir said.
The presentation emphasized equity and targeted investments. Weir described programs focused on seniors and people with disabilities, and noted funding for community-based organizations to advance local outreach. She also described a crisis-response protocol adopted to coordinate support for families after fatal crashes, including counseling and legal assistance.
Weir discussed automated speed enforcement legislation (AB342), which would authorize a pilot in San Francisco. She said the bill was introduced in 2017 but was not voted on this session, in part because of law-enforcement union opposition related to automation and jobs. "We know that it may be an uphill battle, but this is a really critical tool for Vision Zero," she said, noting jurisdictions that have implemented similar programs have seen fatality reductions of up to 50 percent.
Commissioners asked about data on motorcyclists, e-bikes and dockless scooters. Weir said the department and SFMTA are working with hospital trauma registries to improve medical coding and collect timely data, and that SFMTA's outreach will be incorporated into Vision Zero work. Ryan Reeves, SFMTA's Vision Zero coordinator, said SFMTA is developing communications and planning products to address emerging mobility technologies.
The commission advised continued coordination across agencies and community partners as the department develops next action strategies for 2019'020. The presentation concluded with a focus on predictive modeling and targeted engineering improvements to reduce speeds and improve safety on the identified high-injury streets.
