Safety on SR 12 has been a priority for the STA Board for a number of years, but recent accidents and fatalities have increased the urgency to take immediate action. The STA, working closely with law enforcement agencies and Caltrans, has developed a multi-faceted strategy for improving safety and mobility on this important interregional highway route from Rio Vista to Suisun City and Fairfield. The four key elements of the program are enforcement, legislation, public education and signage, and engineering.
There were 6 fatalities on SR 12 in March 2007 alone. As of October 1, 2007, there have been a total of 9 fatalities on SR 12 between I-80 in Solano County and I-5 in San Joaquin County this year. The rate of fatalities and injury crashes is more than one and a half times the state average. The STA-sponsored Assembly Bill 112 (Wolk) creating a Safety Enhancement Double Fine Zone (DFZ) on this same stretch of SR 12 was approved by the legislature and signed into law on October 1, 2007. In addition to creating a DFZ on SR 12 beginning January 1, 2008, the law defines criteria for similar roadways and highways throughout the state to qualify for this designation as a Double Fine Zone.
The STA-sponsored Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 7 (Wolk), designating a two-mile section of SR 12 as the Officer David Lamoree Memorial Highway, was also approved. 26-year-old Rio Vista Police Officer Lamoree died as a result of a head-on collision on SR 12 in October, 2005. The STA is working with Caltrans to facilitate installing the signs on SR 12.
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