San Diego is a congested city, like much of California. The traffic in our state is legendary, so it makes sense that these bustling urban areas would be at higher risk for car accidents. While car accidents can occur at any intersection, some are more dangerous than others. In fact, you might be surprised which are the most dangerous intersections are in San Diego.
Pedestrian injuries and fatalities have been increasing in recent years, and San Diego echoes the national trend. Between 2010 and 2016, there were more than 7500 pedestrian accidents in San Diego, contributing to 430 deaths and 7700 injuries. Many of these injuries and fatalities have certain intersections in common.
San Diego’s Biggest Intersection Offenders
- University Avenue and First Avenue in Hillcrest. The Hillcrest neighborhood is infamous for its traffic congestion, so it makes sense that pedestrians are at higher risk here. The neighborhood also lacks proper safety infrastructure such as adequate lighting and well-maintained sidewalks, which may force pedestrians to walk alongside busy roadways.
- Valley Parkway and Midway Drive in Escondido. This intersection is close to many area schools, which makes the number of injuries and fatalities even scarier. Public officials must investigate the root causes of these accidents and take immediate action to prevent further tragedy.
- 4th Avenue and C Street, Chula Vista. This intersection is near a community park and a DMV, but it’s a busy area, especially during rush hour. The crosswalks06 are very long and the posted speed limit is relatively high, which could explain some of the accidents.
- Federal Blvd and Euclid Avenue in Oak Park. This intersection lies just one block north of a Highway 94 off-ramp, which could account for the number of severe injuries reported here. The roadways become very congested at rush hour, and this congestion, coupled with driver frustration with the commute, could lead to more accidents.
- University and Marlborough Ave, City Heights. University Avenue is one of the most dangerous places to be in the city, as it claims two spots on this list. The congested area needs proper maintenance and improvements to assure pedestrian safety.
What Public Officials Can Do About It
Public safety officials are not inattentive to the dangers these intersections pose to pedestrians. In fact, to improve pedestrian safety, San Diego officials proposed a “Vision Zero” program in 2015, which aims to eradicate any incidence of pedestrian death. This is a movement that’s sweeping the globe, with the first programs launching in Sweden in 1990. San Diego plans to achieve zero pedestrian deaths by the year 2025 by focusing on some of the city’s problem areas. You’ll notice that their areas of focus mimic many of the dangerous areas listed above:
- Fifth Avenue
- El Cajon Boulevard
- Broadway
- Euclid Avenue
- Market Street
- Imperial Avenue
- University Avenue
- Garnet Avenue
City officials plan on implementing infrastructure improvements and changes to these dangerous intersections in the next few years. These could be as simple as repairing sidewalks or as complex as installing more traffic signals and creating roundabouts.
Truly improving the state of the city for pedestrians, however, will require drastic changes and a concentrated effort. San Diego should think bigger and take actions like adding bike lanes and making sidewalks wider in order to truly protect pedestrian safety.
Pedestrian deaths continue to rise throughout the city, and many of these injuries and deaths trace back to common intersections. As a city, we must consider our priorities and hold the safety of pedestrians to a higher standard than the convenience of drivers. The Vision Zero initiative is a good step forward, but only time will tell if it is comprehensive enough.