San Jose is seeing progress in its efforts to improve road safety. Traffic fatalities declined again in 2025, bringing the city closer to its long-term goal of eliminating all traffic deaths within the next 15 years.
Declining Fatalities, Continued Concerns
Last year, 41 people died in traffic accidents on San Jose roadways, a 16% decrease from the 49 fatalities recorded in 2024. This represents the lowest number of traffic deaths the city has experienced since 2012. The decline marks the second consecutive year of improvement following a peak of 63 fatalities in 2022.
Despite the positive trend, advocates emphasize that significant work remains. “It’s still not zero,” stated Clarrissa Cabansagan, Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. Cabansagan also noted, “It’s a tremendous win…I can no longer say that somebody dies on our streets every week in San Jose.”
Vision Zero and Ongoing Improvements
The recent gains are attributed to the city’s decade-long Vision Zero program, launched in 2015. This initiative focuses on roadway improvements and promoting safer driving behaviors. Efforts include the use of “quick build” materials to rapidly adjust road configurations, creating safer spaces for cyclists and pedestrians. In 2023, the city received $12.9 million in federal funding to enhance safety features along four transit corridors.
Earlier projects have focused on improving roadways along Senter Road and the Story Road-Keyes Street corridor in East San Jose. The city has also implemented road safety awareness campaigns, such as “Slow Down, San Jose,” and reduced speed limits on 18 roadways.
These combined efforts, along with public cooperation, “seem to have started to turn the tide,” according to Colin Heyne, a spokesperson for San Jose’s Department of Transportation.
Challenges Remain
While fatalities involving vehicles, bicycles, and motorcycles all decreased last year, pedestrian fatalities remained consistent at 20. Preliminary data through June of 2025 also suggests that the city has not seen the same level of success in reducing major injuries as it has with fatalities.
District 9 Councilmember Pam Foley highlighted the need for increased funding. “Really funding is what we need at this point,” she said, noting that ongoing projects on roadways like Tully Road and McKee Road are progressing “little by little.” Additional funding could also accelerate the deployment of automated speed cameras, though federal grant funding for these cameras has been delayed.
Jordan Moldow, chair of a citizen advisory committee, believes the city could be moving more quickly, urging faster implementation of “quick build” projects and updates to roadwork design guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is San Jose’s Vision Zero program?
San Jose’s Vision Zero program is an effort to reduce traffic accidents by carrying out roadway improvements and encouraging safer driving habits among residents.
How have traffic fatalities changed in recent years?
Traffic fatalities in San Jose declined 16% in 2025, falling to 41 deaths. This is the lowest number since 2012, and the second straight year of declines after peaking at 63 deaths in 2022.
What is being done to improve road safety in San Jose?
The city is using “quick build” materials for roadway improvements, implementing safety awareness campaigns like “Slow Down, San Jose,” reducing speed limits, and seeking funding for automated speed cameras.
As San Jose continues toward its 2040 Vision Zero goal, will the current pace of improvement be sufficient to eliminate all traffic deaths?
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