City of San Jose, CA
04/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/02/2026 14:03
NEWS RELEASE: San José Drivers Reminded to Slow Down, Pay Attention During Distracted Driving Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Colin Heyne, Public Information Manager, Transportation Department
408-975-3705; [email protected]
San José has seen a steady decrease in traffic fatalities over the last three years, dropping from a high of 65 people killed in 2022 to 41 in 2025. But that progress has been threatened by a recent series of five fatal crashes in the month of March.
"The City Council is focused on strengthening community safety, and we are continuing to invest in traffic safety projects that protect everyone who lives, works, and travels in San José," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "The City takes traffic safety seriously. Our goal is to make streets safer and prevent traffic deaths and severe injuries in our community."
"One fatal crash is too many," said Director of Transportation John Ristow. "Though San José has safer roads than many big cities, we won't be satisfied until we reach our Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatal and severe-injury crashes. To get there, we need to implement safety projects on our most dangerous streets, while also using messaging and traffic enforcement to get drivers to slow down and pay attention to the road."
"It's become far too common to see drivers looking at their phones instead of the road," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "We're investing in safer street design and consistent enforcement, but safety starts in the driver's seat. Put the phone down, stay focused, and look out for one another."
Supplementing the outreach campaign, the San José Police Department's (SJPD) Traffic Enforcement Unit will be focusing on distracted driving enforcement for several days in April.
"Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of preventable collisions," said SJPD Lieutenant Hatzenbuler. "A moment of inattention can change lives forever - stay focused, stay alert, and put the phone down."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify three types of distracted driving:
San José became the fourth city in the United States to adopt a Vision Zero initiative, in 2015. Vision Zero is an international movement aimed at eliminating fatal and severe-injury traffic crashes. The City's 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan calls for a 30% reduction, from 2024 statistics, in the number of crashes that leave victims killed or severely injured, by 2030. The plan aims to eliminate fatal and severe-injury crashes by 2040.
About the City of San José
With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California's largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
About the Transportation Department
The San José Transportation Department works to equitably serve our diverse community and enhance quality of life by planning and operating safe transportation systems, promoting sustainable transportation choices, and maintaining resilient infrastructure. We envision a future in which today's innovation leads to a greener, safer, more sustainable city.
CONTACT
Colin Heyne, Public Information Manager, Transportation Department
408-975-3705; [email protected]
San José Drivers Reminded to Slow Down, Pay Attention During Distracted Driving Month
SAN JOSE, Calif. (April 2, 2026) - The City of San José is rolling out safety messaging aimed at drivers during Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. The City's Transportation Department will place electronic message signs at fourteen locations along high-crash corridors throughout the month, with messages telling drivers, "Eyes Up Phones Down," "People Crossing," "Slow Down," and "Conduzca Despacio".San José has seen a steady decrease in traffic fatalities over the last three years, dropping from a high of 65 people killed in 2022 to 41 in 2025. But that progress has been threatened by a recent series of five fatal crashes in the month of March.
"The City Council is focused on strengthening community safety, and we are continuing to invest in traffic safety projects that protect everyone who lives, works, and travels in San José," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "The City takes traffic safety seriously. Our goal is to make streets safer and prevent traffic deaths and severe injuries in our community."
"One fatal crash is too many," said Director of Transportation John Ristow. "Though San José has safer roads than many big cities, we won't be satisfied until we reach our Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatal and severe-injury crashes. To get there, we need to implement safety projects on our most dangerous streets, while also using messaging and traffic enforcement to get drivers to slow down and pay attention to the road."
"It's become far too common to see drivers looking at their phones instead of the road," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "We're investing in safer street design and consistent enforcement, but safety starts in the driver's seat. Put the phone down, stay focused, and look out for one another."
Supplementing the outreach campaign, the San José Police Department's (SJPD) Traffic Enforcement Unit will be focusing on distracted driving enforcement for several days in April.
"Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of preventable collisions," said SJPD Lieutenant Hatzenbuler. "A moment of inattention can change lives forever - stay focused, stay alert, and put the phone down."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify three types of distracted driving:
- Visual: taking your eyes off the road.
- Manual: taking your hands off the wheel.
- Cognitive: taking your mind off driving.
San José became the fourth city in the United States to adopt a Vision Zero initiative, in 2015. Vision Zero is an international movement aimed at eliminating fatal and severe-injury traffic crashes. The City's 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan calls for a 30% reduction, from 2024 statistics, in the number of crashes that leave victims killed or severely injured, by 2030. The plan aims to eliminate fatal and severe-injury crashes by 2040.
About the City of San José
With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California's largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
About the Transportation Department
The San José Transportation Department works to equitably serve our diverse community and enhance quality of life by planning and operating safe transportation systems, promoting sustainable transportation choices, and maintaining resilient infrastructure. We envision a future in which today's innovation leads to a greener, safer, more sustainable city.
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City of San Jose, CA published this content on April 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 02, 2026 at 20:03 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]