Glad to see Supervisor Mandelman calling for SFPD to do traffic enforcement of the most dangerous driving behavior (“Focus on the Five” violations).
SFPD has clearly deprioritized traffic enforcement; SFPD can prioritize it without even more funding/staffing.
Traffic citations have decreased by more than 90% since 2019, while SFPD funding has increased and calls for service have decreased ~40%.
SFPD has sufficient staffing/funding to enforce traffic laws, the Department just needs to prioritize traffic enforcement.
More background⬇️
https://twitter.com/lukebornheimer/status/1556075828542287874
“SFPD issues 87% less traffic citations now as they did three years ago, or 10 citations per day for ~50 officers. SFPD’s ineffectiveness makes our streets less safe. Thanks to @Braitsch for obtaining and analyzing the data and @HKnightSF for amplifying it!https://t.co/WG48waGHOR”
As outlined in the thread/op-ed below, the most effective way to decrease roadway deaths and serious injuries is to help people shift trips to bikes, public transit and other sustainable modes by installing protected bike lanes and transit-only lanes.
We need to do more of that.
https://twitter.com/lukebornheimer/status/1559193386677981185
“San Francisco has a car-related death and injury crisis. One of our only tools—enforcement of traffic laws—is ineffective and nearly nonexistent. If we want to achieve #VisionZero, SFPD needs to be more effective. An op-ed / thread on how they can do it 🧵https://t.co/aGLqvjqKER”
The temptation for some is to assume even more SFPD staffing/funding is the solution (and SFPD will happily tell us that), but this is fundamentally a prioritization issue—SFPD just needs to prioritize traffic enforcement.
In the meantime, we need to install more infrastructure.
This chart of total traffic citations since 2014 makes clear that SFPD has deprioritized traffic enforcement…and car drivers have noticed — people are driving recklessly without fear of being caught.
Mayor Breed should direct SFPD to enforce the “Focus on the Five” violations.
As for infrastructure improvements and policy changes that would make it safer and easier to walk, bike, and use public transit:
1️⃣ Prohibit turns on red citywide
2️⃣ Daylight 30 feet at every intersection
3️⃣ Streamline the process for protected bike lanes and transit-only lanes
Great thought/question! Unfortunately, state law mandates that sworn (and armed) officers do traffic enforcement. We would need state law to be changed (a pilot to be approved) to allow unarmed “civilian” enforcement, which I support.
In the meantime, we should be investing in “self-enforcing” infrastructure and sustainable transportation to help people shift trips away from cars and ensure those who need to drive are doing so safely.
SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT In 2012, the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency (SFMTA) analyzed police data about traffic collisions in San Francisco. The agency identified the five most common causes of collisions and injuries: speeding violating pedestrian right-of-way in a crosswalk running red lights running stop signs failing to yield while turning. The San Francisco
Mayor Breed publicly directing SFPD to prioritize traffic enforcement — and specifically Focus on the Five violations — would go a long way.
Additionally, she (or the Board of Supervisors) could threaten to shift SFPD funding to unarmed enforcement and/or SFMTA for infrastructure improvements.
Either (or both) of those would likely motivate SFPD to start doing traffic enforcement.
Mayor Breed has a lot of sway with SFPD, but has shown no sign of putting pressure on them to actually do their job, so I'm not holding my breath.
Luke Bornheimer
Sweeten the streets
baloo