Deadline is approaching for cities to comply with California road safety law

Senate Bill 932 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022 and requires counties and cities throughout the state to identify high-injury streets and intersections in their General Plan and prioritize safety improvements to reduce traffic collisions by January 1, 2025.

News Channel 3 reached out to officials with every city in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County and requested figures on traffic collisions, including pedestrian injuries and deaths from the past couple years. We also asked about compliance with SB 932.

Here are the responses we have received:

Palm Desert

"The City of Palm Desert has not yet updated its general plan to include this information, but we are taking steps to develop a plan to make the streets safer and reduce traffic collisions. In fact, we are currently working with a consulting firm to develop a Vision Zero Action Plan for the City (https://www.engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero). The Vision Zero Action Plan is a national initiative developed by the Federal Highway Administration and adopted by public agencies throughout the nation. The primary goal of the plan is to minimize accidents on public streets for all road users, including motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and public transit users.

The City has been working closely with the Sheriff’s Department to identify locations with high accident rates, although in the past three years, we have not identified any specific locations within the city of Palm Desert with a high accident rate.

Palm Desert uses the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) for data on pedestrian injuries or deaths related to traffic collisions. (https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/services-information/switrs-internet-statewide-integrated-traffic-records-system)"

Thomas Soule
Public Affairs Manager

Coachella

"The City has awarded a contract to prepare a Local Roadway Safety Plan, LRSP, and is currently working to complete and adopt that plan prior to the January 2025 deadline. The City will utilize that LRSP to identify and prioritize intersection and roadway improvements in accordance with SB 932."

Andrew Simmons
City Engineer

Rancho Mirage

"The City of Rancho Mirage has an Active Transportation Plan (ATP), and Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP), in addition to language found in our General Plan. Current legislation cited minor modifications for enhanced crosswalk visibility on Bob Hope Drive and Highway 111 which has already been completed. The City has access to collision data via the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Let me know what additional information you may need."

Gabe Codding
Director of Marketing

Indian Wells

"The City just completed a comprehensive, City wide Traffic Safety Plan which identifies areas that may need additional investigation for improved safety. The Study also provides a “toolbox” of alternative solutions to various issues. The City is currently addressing pedestrian safety in several areas of the City. Although this project was approved in the Capital Improvement Program prior to the Safety Study, the area of concern was identified in the report."

Peter Castro
Assistant City Manager

News Channel 3 also requested figures on the number of traffic collisions in each city, including those that involved pedestrians. Here is the information we were provided:

Palm Springs

• 2022: inj./TC: 346 and 11 deaths, ped./inj.: 42 and 4 deaths
• 2023: inj./TC: 327 and 7 deaths, ped./inj.: 40 and 1 death
• 2024: inj./TC: 176 and 5 deaths, ped./inj.: 17 and 1 death

Desert Hot Springs (through June)

• 2022: 8 deaths, 147 injuries (5 pedestrian fatalities, 16 pedestrians injured)
• 2023: 4 deaths, 155 injuries (1 pedestrian fatality, 10 pedestrians injured)
• 2024: 0 deaths, 82 injuries (1 pedestrian injury)

Cathedral City

• 2022: 3 deaths, 74 injuries, (2 pedestrian fatalities)
• 2023: 9 deaths, 109 injuries, (4 pedestrian fatalities)
• 2024: 2 deaths, 75 injuries, (0 pedestrian fatalities)

Coachella (through June per RSO)

• 2022: 1 death (1 pedestrian fatality)
• 2023: 2 deaths (0 pedestrian fatalities)
• 2024: 2 deaths (2 pedestrian fatalities)

Indian Wells (through June per RSO)

• 2022: 0 deaths
• 2023: 0 deaths
• 2024: 0 deaths

La Quinta (through June per RSO)

• 2022: 2 deaths
• 2023: 3 deaths
• 2024: 4 deaths

Palm Desert (through June per RSO)

• 2022: 2 deaths
• 2023: 6 deaths
• 2024: 2 deaths

Rancho Mirage (through June per RSO)

• 2022: 1 death
• 2023: 1 death
• 2024: 2 deaths

Indio

• 2022: 9 deaths (4 pedestrian fatalities, 20 pedestrian injuries, total involving ped. 39), 134 injuries, 11 bike, 4 scooter
• 2023: 10 deaths (3 pedestrian fatalities, 21 pedestrian injuries, total involving ped. 37), 176 injuries, 13 bike, 0 scooter
• 2024: 5 deaths (1 pedestrian fatality, 5 pedestrian injuries, total involving ped. 12), 86 injuries, 5 bike, 1 scooter