For Immediate Release: December 14, 2020
OPD NEWS:
The Oakland Police Department Traffic Division has seen an increase in fatalities on Oakland roadways. This year, 33 people were killed on Oakland streets, compared to 27 in 2019. Most of these collisions occurred between 9:00 PM and 3:00 AM.
In March, the Department suspended the weekend/overnight traffic enforcement motorcycle squad to reduce OPD’s overtime. Still, OPD officers are responding to more fatal and serious collisions, with vehicle speed being the primary cause of the accident. The number of hit & runs and impaired accidents have more than doubled.
2019 |
2020 |
|
Reported Collisions |
8168 |
7178 |
Fatal Victims |
27 |
33 |
Pedestrians |
10 |
12 |
Bicyclists |
3 |
1 |
Alcohol/Drugs |
3 |
7 |
Hit & Runs |
6 |
13 |
Reduce your risk:
WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING:
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
- Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or in bad weather.
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
WHEN YOU ARE WALKING
- Always stay alert.
- Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
- Don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road.
#OPDCARES initiative is about working together as a community to help stop the tragic loss of life and reduce the level of violence in our city. Collectively, we want to ensure Oaklanders and our visitors are safe in our community.