Recently, pedestrian deaths on San Diego roads have spiked. In fact, 2014 was the deadliest year in San Diego in more than a decade, with 23 pedestrians dying just in the city.
Jim Stone of Circulate San Diego says drivers need to look more carefully.
“People are fallible, sometimes you make a mistake,” Stone told NBC7. “Stepping out onto the curb should not be a death sentence.”
On Wednesday last week a driver ran over a man in the road after he collapsed while crossing the street.
Last Friday was an especially tragic day; two walkers were injured in a hit and run in Vista, a woman died after a shuttle bus hit her crossing the street, then at night a driver hit two men crossing health center drive to visit someone in the hospital. Both of the men were seriously injured and one later died.
In Lakeside that same night a family was crossing Woodside Avenue when a suspected DUI driver without lights on hit them, killing a grandmother and seriously injuring her husband.
This week started out no different when a bicyclist was hit and killed in Mira Mesa. Thursday morning two children were injured when a teenage driver hit them in a crosswalk in San Marcos.
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Stone says the crashes are preventable.
“They're crashes, they're not accidents. We just can't accept it, it’s too much loss, families are devastated and it's time for a change.”
Stone is working with the City, schools and organizations on a resolution for what’s called 'Vision Zero', which has a goal of zero pedestrian deaths on San Diego’s streets.
“It's a big goal but people need to ask themselves, what is an acceptable level for your family,” Stone said. “Is 50 percent good enough? I don’t think so.”
The City Council will meet on October 20th to consider a Vision Zero resolution.
