In L.A., car crashes killed more people than homicides in 2023
January 30, 2024 | Filed under: Safety
In 2023, Los Angeles experienced more deaths due to car crashes than homicides, marking the first time in a decade that traffic fatalities exceeded homicides. A total of 336 people died in crashes, with pedestrians accounting for more than half of these deaths (179), the highest number in over two decades.
Police at the scene in Pacoima this month where a pedestrian was hit and killed by three cars and where all three drivers failed to stop. (OnScene.TV)
L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore and Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged these concerning statistics, noting an 8% increase in fatal crashes and a 23% surge in fatal hit-and-runs, while homicides decreased by 17% to 327.
Efforts to address this issue include increased law enforcement focus on problem areas, issuing speeding tickets, cracking down on drunk drivers, and solving hit-and-run cases. However, advocates argue that these measures alone are insufficient if the streets remain unfriendly to pedestrians. They are calling for traffic violence to be treated as a public health crisis and for immediate action on safety measures.
This L.A. Times article details several tragic incidents, including the deaths of young pedestrians and a high-speed crash involving Pepperdine University students. Advocacy groups are pushing for more rapid implementation of safety initiatives, such as speed cameras and infrastructure improvements like protected bike lanes and wider sidewalks.
Additionally, California State Senator Scott Wiener proposed legislation to require speed governors in all new vehicles by 2027 to prevent drivers from exceeding speed limits by more than 10 mph. This proposal comes as a response to the spike in road deaths, even though national trends suggest a slight decrease in fatal collisions in the first half of the previous year.
Police at the scene in Pacoima this month where a pedestrian was hit and killed by three cars and where all three drivers failed to stop. (OnScene.TV)
L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore and Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged these concerning statistics, noting an 8% increase in fatal crashes and a 23% surge in fatal hit-and-runs, while homicides decreased by 17% to 327.
Efforts to address this issue include increased law enforcement focus on problem areas, issuing speeding tickets, cracking down on drunk drivers, and solving hit-and-run cases. However, advocates argue that these measures alone are insufficient if the streets remain unfriendly to pedestrians. They are calling for traffic violence to be treated as a public health crisis and for immediate action on safety measures.
This L.A. Times article details several tragic incidents, including the deaths of young pedestrians and a high-speed crash involving Pepperdine University students. Advocacy groups are pushing for more rapid implementation of safety initiatives, such as speed cameras and infrastructure improvements like protected bike lanes and wider sidewalks.
Additionally, California State Senator Scott Wiener proposed legislation to require speed governors in all new vehicles by 2027 to prevent drivers from exceeding speed limits by more than 10 mph. This proposal comes as a response to the spike in road deaths, even though national trends suggest a slight decrease in fatal collisions in the first half of the previous year.
