Promoting Health & Racial Equity with Safe Streets

Life Expectancy in Chicago Declined During Pandemic – Biggest Drops among Black, Latinx

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Data Source: Illinois Department of Public Health Vital Statistics�For more information, visit www.chicagohealthatlas.org

HEALTHY CHICAGO 2025

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Healthy Chicago 2025 is a citywide plan to close Chicago’s racial life expectancy gap by addressing the root causes of health, including policy and systems changes that affect community conditions

Safe and healthy streets

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Fatal traffic crashes impact both people inside and outside vehicles

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reckless driving, speeding, impairment

106 people

inside vehicles�(60%)

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68 people

outside the vehicle�(walk, bike, roll)

(40%)

60%

2021 Chicago Traffic Fatalities

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4.7

2.7

14.0

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Annual Chicago traffic crash-related Emergency Department (ED) visits for Blacks are almost 60% of all traffic crash-related ED visits since 2019

Data Source: National Syndromic Surveillance Project, provisional as of 7/14/22

Traffic Safety Speed Cameras

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• 162 cameras
• 69 Child Safety Zones (660’ of a park or school by state law)
• 6 regions with at least 10% of cameras in each
• Signage: more than state law requires

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• Warning
• for the first month when a new camera is installed
• for the first ticket someone gets
• Ticket:
• Speeding 6-10 mph over the speed limit receives a $35 ticket -- one of the lowest fines in the U.S.
• Speeding 11 mph or more receives a $100 ticket
• Review:
• data, pictures/video available online for people to see
• 3 human beings review each violation

Cameras Have Prevented Crashes and Save Lives

Based on an independent UIC study of a 3-year period:

• prevented 208 injury crashes a reduction of 12%
• 36 people not severely injured or killed based on 15% reduction in severe crashes

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Cameras Have Reduced Speeds and Change Behavior

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Speeds down

Injury crashes down

Injury crashes near speed cameras Jan-April

Average vehicle speeds (MPH)

Clear Path Relief Overview Effective April 1, 2022

• Provides debt relief
• 50% reduction of new tickets for low-income

Summary points

• Black Chicagoans are disproportionately impacted by fatal traffic crashes.

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• Speed kills people outside cars and people inside cars.

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• Disregarding the rules of the road can be deadly, including not only offenses like running stop signs and traffic signals, but also blocking crosswalks, bike lanes and intersections.

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• Driving under the influence, speeding, racing, and other reckless behaviors are involved in 60% of fatal crashes. These behaviors are deadly, no matter how safe we build our streets.

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• Whole of government approach to safety: streets, vehicles, people, incentives.

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• Safety cameras have reduced crashes and reduced speeds, saving lives.

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• Chicago will continue building safe, connected streets locally, for citywide quality of life

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Q/A

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