Fresno had 17 pedestrian and bicyclist deaths this year through the end of August, highlighting persistent safety challenges despite increased police enforcement.

Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, officers documented 2,487 collisions citywide, including 168 involving pedestrians — 15 of whom were killed — and 106 involving bicyclists, resulting in two deaths.

These totals represent improvement when compared to recent years. Fresno recorded 33 fatalities in 2024, 22 in 2023, 28 in 2022, 25 in 2021, and 35 in 2020.

Fresno Bicyclist Group Says There’s Slow Progress

An advocate said the city’s numbers match what they have been hearing from families affected by traffic violence. Edna Pedroza, chair of the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition, said the community continues to call for streets that better protect people, regardless of whether they are walking, biking or driving.

Pedroza said the city has made some progress on bike infrastructure while noting that Fresno still lacks a connected network of protected lanes.

“Progress is happening, but it remains slow,” she said. “We’re encouraged to see the needle moving, but Fresno still lacks the kind of robust, connected infrastructure that truly protects cyclists.”

She said Class IV separated bike lanes and protected intersections would have the greatest impact on safety and public confidence.

While she agrees that targeted police enforcement helps reduce serious crashes, Pedroza said enforcement alone is not enough. She believes a required educational component — such as a course on bicycle awareness and safe driving around vulnerable road users — could strengthen the city’s approach.

The biggest obstacle, Pedroza said, is sustained investment and political commitment to redesigning streets with safety in mind.

She pointed to the “Fatal Five” corridors in the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan as the most urgent places to start, saying modern safety design and lower speed limits could immediately save lives.

Fresno Police Detail Their Enforcement

In a statement, the Fresno Police Department said it works diligently to address traffic safety concerns and problems daily, deploying multiple targeted operations aimed at reducing crashes and preventing fatal injuries.

The department said its enforcement strategy includes a wide range of targeted operations designed to curb the violations most often linked to serious crashes. According to Fresno police, officers regularly conduct Traffic Safety Enforcement operations that focus on the city’s leading primary collision factors — unsafe speed, improper turning, DUI, right-of-way violations, and failure to obey traffic signs and signals.

Police said they also run Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Enforcement operations, directing officers to watch for violations that contribute to the most severe crashes involving people walking or biking. That includes drivers who fail to yield in crosswalks, pedestrians crossing against signals, and bicyclists riding without required lighting.

Distracted-driving operations continue as well, with officers specifically monitoring for wireless device use behind the wheel, which the department said remains a persistent contributor to collisions.

Motorcycle Safety Enforcement operations target areas heavily used by riders, where police say speed and visibility issues often lead to crashes. Officers focus on enforcing laws that require larger vehicles to yield to motorcycles and on stopping motorcyclists traveling at unsafe speeds.

The department also deploys DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols through its specialized Traffic Safety Section, which Fresno police say conducts these operations “on a regular basis” to deter impaired driving.

Police Said They Impounded 100 Vehicles Every Quarter

Police have additionally expanded efforts to curb illegal street racing and sideshows. The Traffic Safety Section includes officers trained to identify mechanical modifications linked to dangerous driving and to prepare warrants to impound cars used in racing. Since Jan. 1, the department said it has averaged more than 100 impounds every quarter for reckless driving and street-racing violations.

Education initiatives are also part of the strategy.

Police work with the city’s Traffic Engineering Department on infrastructure improvements, participate in Vision Zero and Active Transportation Advisory Committee meetings, and partner with schools and community organizations on safety events such as National Walk to School Day, the Ride of Silence, bicycle helmet and light giveaways, and child-passenger safety education.

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