Contra Costa Health receives grant to tackle pedestrian fatalities
In the past ten years, fatal crashes involving pedestrians have increased by almost 30 percent in the county, according to Contra Costa Health, which recently received a $202,692 grant to promote safe practices for pedestrians and bicyclists.
According to county health officials, pedestrians and bicyclists are 2.4 times more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a traffic crash compared to drivers. The California Office of Traffic Safety grant will enable Contra Costa Health to conduct educational initiatives emphasizing the significance of safely sharing the road.
California Office of Traffic Safety Director Barbara Rooney said everyone deserves a safe environment to travel, regardless of how people get around.
“The safety of people walking and biking on our roads is a high priority,” Rooney said. “Education plays a pivotal role in creating a strong road safety culture that prioritizes traffic safety, especially for our most vulnerable road users.”
In Richmond, more than nine pedestrians are killed or seriously injured on average each year, according to data provided by Contra Costa Health. Annually, around three cyclists are killed or seriously injured in crashes in Richmond.
In Richmond, 29 pedestrians were killed in crashes between 2013 and 2022, according to the Transportation Injury Mapping System. This number includes pedestrians who died on Interstates 80 and 580.
In 21 fatalities, TIMS lists pedestrian violations as the primary crash factor, such as failure to yield right-of-way to vehicles when crossing outside a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
Fatal pedestrian crashes
Over the same period, Richmond recorded 365 pedestrians injured but not killed in collisions, with the driver at fault 61 percent of the time for violations such as failure to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and speeding.
The grant funds will support bicycle and pedestrian safety activities to support public health and community conditions affecting non-motorized road users. This will be accomplished through various initiatives, including the organization of bicycle and pedestrian safety campaigns and the conduction of community-based bicycle and walk audits on hazardous roads.
The department plans to host community events that promote bicyclist and pedestrian visibility and the importance of sharing the road, slowing down, and staying alert to bicyclists and pedestrians while driving.
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