In order to improve traffic safety conditions and help protect pedestrians, the City of San Diego’s Traffic Engineering team has recommended improvements for seven locations with high injury and fatal crashes in calendar year 2023. The High Crash Locations list and recommended safety improvements are part of an annual engineering process and the result of a year-long evaluation completed by the Transportation Department.  

In identifying these priority locations, City staff reviewed data from calendar year 2023 and evaluated intersections where five or more crashes had occurred. The analysis also looked at intersections and street segments with the most injury crashes and intersections with the most crashes involving pedestrians.  

Each year as part of its proactive traffic safety improvement program, the City’s Transportation Department conducts a citywide high crash analysis. The results are made available on the City’s Vision Zero website. As part of the City’s commitment to safety, the High Crash Location analysis is one of many studies the City completes to help improve safety within the public right of way. The Transportation Department also performs assessments of all fatal crashes and prepares recommendations for improvements at these locations.  

In addition, the City recently completed a Systemic Safety Analysis, which identifies similar characteristics across intersections where fatal crashes have occurred, allowing the City to proactively prioritize improvements at intersections with those characteristics.  

“Our engineers and field operations teams are working hand in hand to ensure these safety upgrades are implemented to maximize safety for all users,” said Transportation Department Director Bethany Bezak. “Being able to carry out these projects with our in-house teams is important so the work can be completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The seven locations identified through the 2023 High Crash Locations analysis include five intersections and two street segments:

• Art Street at El Cajon Boulevard
• Kurtz Street at Rosecrans Street
• Miramar Road at Nobel Drive
• Briarwood Road at Paradise Valley Road
• Pacific Highway at Taylor Street
• El Cajon Boulevard from 63^rd Street to Choctaw Drive
• Market Street from 26^th Street to 27^th Street 

Traffic engineering teams are now in the process of designing and scheduling work for these safety improvement projects. Many of the safety improvements will be installed by City crews through quick build projects, but some must be completed through the City’s Capital Improvement Program and will require additional funding to implement.  

Among the safety recommendations, additional signs, flashing beacons and crosswalks aim to improve visibility for drivers to see pedestrians entering the intersections. The recommendations also call for upgrading traffic signal lights, replacing or adding speed limit signs, and pedestrian countdown timers. Where applicable, intersections may receive additional red curbs to be consistent with the new Assembly Bill 413 “Daylighting Law” which prohibits vehicles from parking within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk. 

Traffic engineering recommendations vary for each location and, in some cases, require coordination with other agencies including MTS and the North County Transit District. 

To learn more about the City’s efforts to create safer roads and improve mobility options, visit sandiego.gov/VisionZero.