BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: AB 707
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: Ting
VERSION: 5/1/13
Analysis by: Erin Riches FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: June 25, 2013
SUBJECT:
Vehicles: pedestrian signage
DESCRIPTION:
This bill deletes conditions that must be met before a local
agency may post "SENIOR" pedestrian warning signs.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
Establishes a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour
when passing a senior center or facility that is next to a
street other than a state highway and where standard "SENIOR"
pedestrian warning signs are posted.
Provides that a local agency is not required to post a
standard "SENIOR" pedestrian warning sign until:
o The local agency has received private donations
sufficient to cover the cost of posting the sign; and
o The local agency makes a determination that there is
need for the sign.
Authorizes a local agency to utilize any other funds available
to pay for posting standard
"SENIOR" pedestrian warning signs if it chooses to post a
"SENIOR" pedestrian warning sign.
Establishes a Pedestrian Safety Account in the State
Transportation Fund to fund grants to be awarded by the state
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for pedestrian safety
projects.
This bill :
AB 707 (TING) Page 2
Authorizes a local agency to post a standard "SENIOR"
pedestrian warning sign when it makes a determination that
there is need for the sign, but does not require that private
donations pay for the cost of posting the sign.
Authorizes a local agency to request Pedestrian Safety Account
grant funding, or any other grant funding for which it is
eligible, to pay for the sign.
Authorizes a local agency to use grant funding, or any other
funds available including private donations, to post standard
"SENIOR" pedestrian warning signs.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose . The author notes that existing law, which does not
require a local agency to post "SENIOR" pedestrian warning
signs until private sources can cover the costs, has made it
difficult for senior facilities to obtain these signs. The
sponsor states that "senior slow zones" are not widely used
because of questions about how local governments might fund
the required signage. This bill would simplify the process of
obtaining the signs and help protect seniors by making drivers
aware of areas that may have large numbers of senior
pedestrians.
2.Senior pedestrian safety . The California Office of Traffic
Safety indicates that pedestrian fatalities for individuals
age 65 years and older increased 14.6 percent from 2008 to
2009, and 4.6 percent from 2009 to 2010. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration states that individuals 65 years
and older accounted for 19 percent of all pedestrian
fatalities and 8 percent of pedestrian injuries in 2009. In
2009, the fatality rate for senior pedestrians was 1.96 per
100,000 population - higher than the rate for all other age
groups.
3.Questionable funding source . This bill authorizes local
agencies to seek grant funding specifically from the
California Pedestrian Safety Account. This account, which was
created by AB 2522 (Shelley), Chapter 833, Statutes of 2000,
has received minimal or no funding during its existence. The
author expresses hope that when the account is eventually
funded, it can provide grants for this purpose.
AB 707 (TING) Page 3
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 69-0
Appr: 13-4
Trans: 16-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday, June 19,
2013.)
SUPPORT: California Alliance for Retired Americans
(co-sponsor)
California Walks (co-sponsor)
California State Retirees
OPPOSED: None received.