The City of San Luis Obispo Public Works and Police Departments have completed and released the 2010 Annual Traffic Safety Report (TSR), as part of the City’s overall Traffic Safety Program. In 2010, total collisions were down 12 percent and injury collisions were down from 2009. During 2010, one traffic related fatality involved an intoxicated pedestrian crossing midblock on Santa Barbara Street who was struck by a bus; this was the first traffic related fatality on City streets since 2006.

Compared to state and national statistics, the data reported reflects a continuing downward trend in collisions within the City. Since the City of San Luis Obispo initiated the Traffic Safety Report in 2002, traffic collisions have continually decreased, with 2010 as the lowest on record, despite an overall increase in City-wide traffic volumes.

Since the beginning of the program in 2002, traffic collisions on City streets have been reduced by over 50 percent.

As part of this program, the Public Works department reviews all intersections and street segments in the City for collision patterns, based on these assessments recommendations are made for correcting patterns at the highest ranked intersections.

Corrective measures most commonly include roadway improvements and focused enforcement. For this year’s report the most notable high collision rate locations which will receive corrective measures are: Monterey and Santa Rosa Streets; Broad and Marsh Streets; High/Pismo and Higuera Streets; Broad and Industrial Way; South and Parker Streets; Osos and Pacific Streets; Marsh and Morro Streets; and Calle Joaquin and Los Osos Valley Road.

The 2010 TSR report marks yet another significant milestone in the City’s outstanding history in traffic safety efforts. Thanks to the continued support of past and current City Councils, over 200 minor and 17 major traffic safety projects have been completed, or are currently under construction since 2002. Due to the City’s investment in these projects, coupled with ongoing enforcement activities, traffic collisions are continuing to decline.

In 2009, the City received the International Institute of Traffic Engineers Public Agency Achievement Award for excellence in Traffic Safety for its success through the implementation of this Traffic Safety Program. This is one of the most prestigious international awards a public agency can receive for its transportation engineering practices. Such a high level of recognition is particularly special for the City of San Luis Obispo since the award is typically received by State transportation departments or major metropolitan organizations.

For further information regarding the 2010 Annual Traffic Safety Report or Traffic Safety Program, please visit http://www.slocity.org/publicworks/ or contact Public Works Transportation Department, at (805) 781-7190.