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San Francisco Police Increase Traffic Citations, Reduce Traffic Fatalities

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — San Francisco police wrote 62 percent more traffic tickets this year than they did last year. The increase is part of stepped-up effort aimed at keeping pedestrians safe under the Vision Zero program.

San Francisco Police Increase Traffic Citations, Reduce Traffic Fatalities

Vision Zero strives to eliminate traffic fatalities in San Francisco by 2024 and one approach is a tougher traffic enforcement.

Police Commander Mikail Ali, who works with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency told KCBS that he's seen positive results.

"In 2013, we had a high rate of pedestrian fatalities at 21, with total traffic fatalities at 34. Year to day—knock on wood—we're at 20," he said.

Ali credits a 62 percent increase in citations especially for speeding, running red lights and stop signs and no yielding to pedestrians for that reduction in traffic deaths.

"We're not trying to make people's lives miserable by giving them a citation; it's an immediate impact on behavior of people that we are trying to change," Ali said.

The SFMTA will receive a complete update on the city's Vision Zero program on Tuesday.

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