Reflecting global trends, Berkeley has seen an increase in pedestrian accidents and fatalities in recent years. Cars are getting bigger, as well as quieter with the increasing prevalence of electric vehicles. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there has been a notable increase in distracted drivers between 2013 and 2022, with the amount of drivers “manipulating hand-held electronic devices” increasing by 82 percent. Distracted drivers account for 8 percent of crash fatalities according to NHTSA. Concern for this rise is felt by Berkeley High School students and community members alike.
BHS senior Maddalena Walsh was hit by a car walking in the summer of 2023 in Berkeley, sustaining bruised bones but no major injuries. According to Walsh, being involved in a pedestrian crash has made her into a more conscientious driver, and increased her awareness of structural safety issues for drivers and pedestrians.
“You have to be really alert in what’s happening and what is in front of you or what’s coming up, or just be aware that you might have to brake suddenly,” Walsh said. Walsh suggested that the city could improve the safety of and number of crosswalks so there are clear and protected spaces for pedestrians to cross busy streets. “Especially in heavy weather conditions like right now, I think more crosswalks would be good. Ultimately, it’s up to the people and the people driving the car if they want to be smart about it or not,” Walsh said.
Pedestrian accidents can impact both the physical and mental health of those involved. BHS junior Yohanna Sanchez was hit on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2022 while crossing on Shattuck. Sanchez described both the anxiety they were forced to deal with in the aftermath, as well as physical repercussions.
“Right after the accident I was very anxious to be inside of a car. I realized I couldn’t avoid the most efficient way to get to A and B, so I managed my anxiety by focusing on music or sound within the car, it places my mind elsewhere,” Sanchez said, “I still find myself in discomfort from where I was hit, I feel like I’m 80 instead of 17!”
The accident has led them to look at the bigger picture of traffic dangers as a whole.
“Traffic safety isn’t just about policy but about protecting lives. The district has a responsibility to make sure students can get to and from school safely. That means pushing for better crosswalk visibility, more crossing guards in high-risk areas, and working with the city to improve traffic infrastructure near schools,” Sanchez said.
While intersections are inherently higher risk areas for cars and pedestrians, some intersections lack adequate regulatory equipment as well. Berkeley council members have identified nine of these high-risk intersections that lack adequate stop signs and dividers.
One piece of statewide legislation that aims to increase California’s intersection safety is Assembly Bill 413, referred to as the ‘daylighting’ law. As of Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, it is illegal to park a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk. This covers both marked and unmarked crosswalks, and the City of Berkeley promises fines of $64 for any violators. Daylighting is not unique to California, but is instead something that has proved beneficial across multiple U.S. states.
“It’s been proven in places like Hoboken, New Jersey that (daylighting) significantly improves safety for pedestrians by intersections,” said Rebecca Mirvish, coordinating committee member for Walk Bike Berkeley. Walk Bike Berkeley is a volunteer organization that works to improve the safety of pedestrians and bikers in Berkeley.
However, Mirvish added that the law doesn’t call for city features that would actively take up space to prevent parking, such as bike racks and barriers, which Hoboken has implemented.
“I think that that’s something that the state law doesn’t mandate, but that would be really great if we can make sure that we get more actual physical vertical barriers in addition to the red curb at the corners,” Mirvish said.
This process is not anticipated to be a quick one, and concerns have been raised about these protected 20 foot sections, as they’ve yet to be indicated with red curb paint. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has noted school zones as a priority in this painting process, and similar actions are being taken across the Bay Area.
“We spent 100 years building our streets to prioritize cars,” Mirvish said, referring to the lengthy process of increasing traffic safety, “It’s gonna take a lot to fix them so that they’re safe for everyone.”
Shirley Kirsten, a Berkeley resident who has been involved with pedestrian advocacy since a fatal crash occurred in her neighborhood in 2017, has already noticed violators of the daylighting law, particularly with delivery trucks on Hopkins street parking in these prohibited sections. This was quickly addressed by the city, however, the Hopkins-McGee ‘daylighted’ section now has plastic posts that prevent parking, as do a number of other Berkeley streets.
Kirsten, who gave up her car when she moved to Berkeley, strongly advocates for reporting these traffic dangers.
“Years went by, and I personally picked up the organizing banner to address the lack of an additional stop sign at Hopkins-McGee where cars were speeding through the crosswalk, not yielding to pedestrians,” Kirsten, who lives nearby the intersection, said, “It was not as easy as it seems since there’s so much bureaucracy, red tape, and delay.”
Another potential asset to Berkeley’s traffic safety is Measure FF. Measure FF, which appeared on November’s ballot passed with 60.9 percent of voter support. The measure imposes taxes that will fund repairs and maintenance on Berkeley’s streets. However, the tax will not be collected for a few months, so repairs won’t be made until adequate funds are garnered.
“No student should feel unsafe walking to school, and the district should be doing more to advocate for that,” Sanchez said.