UC Berkeley SafeTREC is excited to announce our 2026 virtual two-part Peer Exchange series: “Advancing safety through the CSSA.” The series, part of the Complete Streets Safety Assessment (CSSA) program, will feature two former participant communities as they reflect on their experiences with the program – from their initial application to the real-world safety impacts of their comprehensive safety reports.
UC Berkeley SafeTREC and Fehr & Peers are excited to announce the selection of 16 communities throughout California for our 2026 Complete Streets Safety Assessment (CSSA) program! These sites represent a diverse range of cities, counties, and tribal lands committed to eliminating traffic fatalities and improving mobility for all road users.
Earlier this month, SafeTREC director Julia Griswold presented at a joint Senate informational hearing in Sacramento, convened by California State Senators Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) and Jesse Arreguín (D-Oakland), chairs of the Transportation Committee and Public Safety Committee respectively....
This research synthesis consists of a set of white papers that jointly provide a review of research on the current practicefor setting speed limits and future opportunities to improve roadway safety. This synthesis was developed to inform thework of the Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force, which was formed in 2019 by the California State Transportation Agencyin response to California Assembly Bill 2363 (Friedman). The statutory goal of the Task Force is to develop a structured,coordinated process for early engagement of all parties to develop policies to reduce traffic fatalities to...
While recent California legislative reforms grant jurisdictions greater flexibility to lower speed limits, evidence suggests that reductions in posted speed limits alone are insufficient to meaningfully reduce crash severity. This research brief examines how speed limit reductions, when paired with infrastructure design, enforcement strategies, and contextual land-use planning, can more effectively lower FSI outcomes. Aligned with the Safe System Approach, the countermeasure layers of roadway geometry, lighting, bicycle-specific infrastructure, and enforcement shape driver behavior and...
In the US, speed limit setting (SLS) procedures have historically relied on driver-behavior-based methods, such as the 85th percentile speed, which are considered objective and allow for consistent application. However, this approach has notable shortcomings, including drivers’ tendency to underestimate their speeds, speed creep, and insufficient consideration of vulnerable road users, which may conflict with the Safe System Approach and Vision Zero initiatives endorsed by the USDOT (US Department of Transportation). In contrast, context-sensitive approaches, which classify roads...
