On April 30, 2025, we, as road safety advocates, gathered on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall to stage a poignant die-in protest. Read on to see what it was about and how you can still help.

Our demonstration was organized in response to Mayor Karen Bass's proposed budget, which includes a $7 million cut to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and the elimination of approximately 24% of its workforce.

We know these reductions will compromise street safety initiatives and lead to more traffic-related fatalities.

Nine years ago, Los Angeles made a bold promise: eliminate traffic deaths by 2025. That promise was called Vision Zero. But according to a damning new audit covered in the Los Angeles Times, the results are in—and they’re tragic.

Instead of going down, traffic fatalities have gone up.

Pedestrian deaths in L.A. have surged by more than 50% since Vision Zero began. In 2023 alone, 336 people were killed in traffic violence—nearly one a day. And of the 56 action items the city committed to? Nearly half remain unfinished.

In California, drivers run red lights daily, putting themselves and others at risk. It is a significant factor in severe injuries and traffic fatalities in California.

According to data from UC Berkeley’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), in 2023 alone, there were 167 fatalities and nearly 1000 people suffered serious injuries due to red light running and traffic light violations.

While these numbers show a slight decrease from previous years, which saw 228 fatalities and more than 1000 serious injuries. These numbers highlight an ongoing road safety issue that not only affects drivers but also disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as pedestrians, cyclists, and even children.

Therefore, a change needs to be made because of this urgent issue.

TODAY, Senate Bill 1509 (Stern) passed through the full California Senate with a 27 to 1 vote and now advances to the Assembly.

What is SB 1509?

In 2020, 1,228 people died in California from speed-related collisions, and in 2021, the number increased, with 1509 Californians losing their lives due to speeding. SB 1509 aims to increase accountability for drivers by increasing the number of violation points associated with driving 26 mph above the speed limit to two violation points.

Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 645, authored by Asm Laura Friedman and cosponsored by SAFE, Streets for All, and Walk San Francisco! This means changes coming to school zones and high-injury intersections starting in 2024…

In 49 other states, drivers have the option to use driving behavior (or "telematics") to determine their monthly premium. By using a mobile app, "dongle", or other technology, drivers can choose to enroll in a program that measures their vehicle speed, distracted driving, and other on-the-road factors. The result? Read on to find out what SAFE is doing to implement this in CA.