Questionable Progress in Los Angeles Traffic Safety

In a continuing tension between faster commutes and safer streets, the city of Los Angeles is struggling to enact policies to reduce traffic deaths. A Michael McDonald opinion piece in the L.A. Times questions why Mayor Eric Garcetti, who issued an executive order enacting a Vision Zero program in 2015 to eliminate traffic deaths in the city, has been hesitant recently to enforce changes that could save lives.

Public resistance to recent purported safety improvements has resulted in some of those projects being watered down. Much of the resistance is based on ager over traffic congestion and the perception that improvements will make things worse for commute times.

The opinion piece cites former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's support for robust and controversial changes to streets, led by former Traffic Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. It implores Mayor Garcetti to do the same.