City of San Luis Obispo, CA

In one week, the San Luis Obispo City Council will consider adopting a proposed four-year plan detailing how the City will aim to eliminate traffic deaths or serious traffic-related injuries on San Luis Obispo streets.
 
City staff will present the final draft Vision Zero Action Plan during the City Council meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at about 6:30 p.m. Community input was incorporated into the plan.

The plan comes after a rise in traffic deaths in recent years, including 19 people killed on City streets between 2020 and 2024. According to the plan, key contributors to severe crashes locally include speeding, impaired driving, and safety challenges on a small number of major streets, and nearly 70% of fatal crashes involved people walking or biking. 
 
“We are looking at making safety upgrades where the most serious crashes happen, focusing on the streets with the highest number of severe crashes,” said Luke Schwartz, the City’s Transportation Manager. “We are proposing safer crosswalks, protected bike lanes, lower speeds in some areas, better lighting, upgraded traffic signals, and other changes designed to improve safety for people walking, biking, and driving.”
 
Vision Zero is a global initiative aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries while improving safety, health, and mobility for all. Adopted by City Council in 2016, the guiding principle is simple: no loss of life on our streets is acceptable. While the City has successfully reduced overall traffic collisions by nearly 60% over the past two decades, traffic fatalities have recently increased.
 
If adopted, the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan would guide a “Safe Systems” approach to reduce the likelihood that everyday mistakes result in life-changing or fatal crashes. The plan also addresses education and enforcement, emergency medical care after crashes, and safer vehicle improvements. 
 
Members of the public may provide input during the meeting, or at least 3 hours prior to the meeting either by (1) submitting written comments by email to emailcouncil@slocity.org, (2) calling (805) 781-7164 and leaving a voice message, or (3) sending letters to the City Clerk’s Office at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. View the full Agenda Packet here.
 
Learn more about complimentary parking validation for public meetings here.
 

About the Vision Zero Action Plan

Key Facts from Vision Zero Action Plan

Citywide collision trends show several consistent risk factors associated with severe crashes:

• High Injury Network: 80% of fatal and severe injury collisions occur on just 11% of streets, identified as the City’s “High Injury Network” (see map below).
• People walking and biking: 69% of traffic deaths involve someone outside of a motor vehicle, such as a pedestrian or bicyclist.
• Speed: 81% of fatal collisions occur on streets with speed limits of 35 mph or higher.
• Impaired driving: 25% of fatal collisions involve alcohol or drug impairment.
• Nighttime travel: 44% of fatal collisions occur at night.
• Disproportionate impacts: Unhoused community members represent roughly 1% of the citywide population but are involved in 25% of fatal traffic crashes.

These patterns help guide targeted strategies focused on high-risk locations and behaviors.

City of SLO High Injury Network

Community Input During Plan Development
During development of the Action Plan, the City received more than 400 public comments through an online input map in early 2024, highlighting safety concerns and near misses. A draft plan was later released for public review, with additional feedback helping to shape the final document.
 
What Does This Mean for Me?
If adopted, residents may see changes on City streets aimed at improving safety and reducing severe crashes, particularly along the High Injury Network. Street improvements may include reduced speed limits, enhanced speed limit visibility, traffic calming measures, traffic signal changes, turn restrictions, enhanced bicycle and pedestrian crossings, among other strategies.
 
For more information about the City’s Vision Zero efforts and latest traffic collision trends, please visit the City’s Traffic Safety webpage.
 
Media Contact: Luke Schwartz, Transportation Manager, lschwartz@slocity.org, (805) 781-7190