What did SAFE get up to in April?! 🤔

Good evening Subscriber First Name!

Well… better late than never, right?
April flew by while we were hard at work on critical road safety projects, and somewhere along the way… this update slipped through the cracks. But we’re back—with plenty to share from April!

May is already jam-packed with big wins and exciting progress (we’ll save that for the next edition), but for now, let’s take a look at what made April so impactful.

In this issue, we’re diving into a long-overdue audit of LA’s program to fix deadly corridors—and why Vision Zero is falling short. We’ll also look at a key state bill that could bring red light cameras back to California, and we’re celebrating community power through our signature event: Finish The Ride and Run.

You’ll also find highlights from our Streets, Art, SAFE student competition, ways to get involved, and a heartfelt thank you to the generous donors who make this work possible.

Let’s make every step, every ride, and every action count as we roll into summer!

All the best,

Dayna Galbreath
Director of Public Affairs

In the Spotlight

Vision Zero, Zero Progress?

New Audit Slams L.A.’s Deadly Street Fix Program

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.

Latest News

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.
…

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

Finish The Ride & Finish The Run

🎉 It’s almost here—the BEST event of the year!

Finish The Ride & Finish The Run and Expo
📅 May 31st & June 1st
📍 The Autry Museum, Griffith Park

This year’s Expo is bigger and better than ever—with more fun, more activities, and more excitement for the whole family!

We’ve expanded our family-friendly Expo with tons of FREE entertainment for all ages:

✨ Face Painting
🖍️ Creative Coloring Station
🏀 Games & Activities for Everyone
🎶 Live Music
📸 Photo Booth Fun
Amazing Vendors with Giveaways & Prizes

Join us for a weekend of celebration, community, and advocacy as we call for safer streets across Southern California—while enjoying a fantastic day in the park!

And don’t forget to sign up to join the ride or run!

I Want to Participate!

Featured Campaign Initiative — Streets, Art, SAFE*

Streets Art SAFE Film and Poster Competition!

We celebrated the incredible creativity and hard work of high school students from across California and beyond who used film and visual art to promote safer streets.

From red carpet moments to powerful student-made PSAs, the night was unforgettable.

Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen - especially our Presenting Sponsor - The Auto Club of Southern California!

Watch the sneak peak of all their work! And stay tuned for the full update in May!

*Streets, Art, SAFE is a creative educational program that empowers high school students to learn traffic safety through the arts while building real-world visual storytelling skills.

Upcoming Events
and Volunteer Opportunities

We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to support a variety of exciting upcoming events!

Volunteers will help us pass out flyers and spread the word about our Finish The Ride & Run event while enjoying the energy and excitement of popular races and events.

👉 Email me or call (323-546-4990) to assist at any of these events!

6 hours of volunteering earns you a free entry to a Finish The Ride or Run event of your choice!

You can also help out at Finish The Ride and Run. Volunteer slots are available from May 29th through June 2nd. It’s a huge event and we appreciate your enthusiastic support!

Volunteer at Finish The Ride and Finish The Run!

I Want To Help!

Stand With Us for Safe Streets

No one should lose a loved one simply for walking, biking, or crossing the street. Yet every year, families are devastated by preventable traffic violence—and the pain doesn’t end when the headlines do.

Ghost Bike placement by SAFE for gentleman hit and killed in South LA

At Streets Are For Everyone, these stories fuel our mission. They remind us why we fight—and why we need your help more than ever.

Your donation is more than a gift. It’s hope. It’s action. It’s a stand for a future where no one else has to endure this kind of loss.

Stand with us. Let’s create change, together.

Protest for SAFE streets held by Streets Are For Everyone

I’d like to help

Thank you to all of SAFE’s Supporters in April!

Abby Higginson, Agustin Salazar, Aldaine Basilio, Alyssa Saldana, Amanda Ziegmann, Andrew Worley, Andy Hwang, Anthony De La Cerda, Bee-Ling Lim, Bob Prodoehl, Brian Pfeffer, Carolyn Essex, Cristian Ortiz, Crystal Navarro, Efrain Munoz, Elena Le, Elizabeth Castillo, Gary Nakamura, Greg Bicksler, Holly Baez, Ignacio Galindo, Isaac Lo, Jacqueline Munoz Hurtarte, Janet Cappe, Jennifer Brossoit, Jerry Mendelsohn, Jhannyn Rivera, Joe Navarrette, John Elefano, Jonathan Santos, Jorge Beserra, Jorge Hurtarte, Joseph Costanzo, Joseph Morales, Joshua Wang, Julianne Venia, Julie Chu, Julio Guerra, Kaly Trezos, Karl Vickers, Kirk Galbreath, Kristine Lindner, Larry Lima, Lauren Prien, Leigh Anne Gillespie, Lunara Deas, Mark Jones, Mary Mendelsohn, Michelle Wong, Monica Monroy, Olivia Jaimes, Paloma Reza, Paul Sachdeva, Pedro Zelayandia, Sabrina Upton, Siro Carrasquedo, Stan Robb, Stephanie Navarro, Todd Steiner, Tyler Dunlavy, Veronica Chen