San Francisco Records Lowest Homicides in Over Six Decades, But Traffic Deaths Reach 17-Year High

While homicides dropped to 34 in 2024, traffic fatalities surged to 41, highlighting contrasting safety trends in the city.

San Francisco saw 34 homicides in 2024, the lowest number since 1960, reflecting a 35% drop from the previous year.
City officials credited the reduction in homicides to data-driven strategies, community intervention programs, and increased use of surveillance technology.
Traffic deaths, however, rose to 41 in 2024, a 47% increase from 2023 and the highest number since 2007, with more than half involving pedestrians.
The Vision Zero initiative, launched in 2015 to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2024, has fallen short, with critics citing larger vehicles, reckless driving, and insufficient enforcement as contributing factors.
Efforts to improve pedestrian safety through quick-build projects have shown localized success but are not enough to counter the citywide rise in traffic-related fatalities.