Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Streetsblog LA

‘In Our Shoes’ Commemorates Victims of Traffic Violence

12:47 PM PST on November 20, 2017

In Our Shoes installation remembers victims of traffic violence. All photos by Joe Linton

This afternoon on the steps of City Hall East this afternoon, hundreds of shoes commemorated the hundreds of people killed in traffic violence. The #inourshoes installation was created by Southern California Families for Safe Streets for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

Families gathered at the site to remember loved ones killed by drivers.

Deborah Hsiung (left) and Beverly Shelton (right) are founders of campaigns against traffic deaths
Deborah Hsiung (left) and Beverly Shelton (right) are founders of campaigns against traffic deaths

"Grandma Beverly" Shelton told the story of how her five-year-old grandson Zachary Michael Cruz was killed in a Berkeley crosswalk by a left-turning driver. Shelton urges all drivers to treat driving "as a job" - to drive like a profession driver, slow down, be courteous, and give others the right of way. Read more of Zachary's story.

Deborah Hsiung lost her seven-year-old son Aidan walking together in a Pasadena crosswalk in 2014. She urges drivers to slow down and be aware that they're "driving a loaded weapon." Read more of Aidan's story.

Louise Olin's husband Milt was killed by a distracted sheriff. Milt Olin was bicycling in Calabasas when he was rear-ended by a patrol car going nearly 50 miles per hour. Olin's widow has formed a foundation to urge safe driving behavior.

These families have come together as a new organization: Southern California Families for Safe Streets. According to the organization's press statement, more than 500 people have died on L.A. streets since the mayor announced his Vision Zero directive in August 2015. The organization urges elected officials to go beyond what they call the "light touch" safety measures implemented so far and to do all they can to stop preventable traffic deaths.

In Our Shoes included photos of traffic violence victims
In Our Shoes included photos of traffic violence victims
In Our Shoes remembers the more than 500 people have been killed by drivers since L.A. adopted its Vision Zero policy in 2015
In Our Shoes remembers the more than 500 people have been killed by drivers since L.A. adopted its Vision Zero policy in 2015

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims continues Saturday in Sunland-Tujunga and Sunday in Pasadena.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Caltrans Readies Guidance for Complete Streets, with a Big Exemption

But somewhere along the way, highway interchanges - roads crossing and going under and over freeways and highways - were exempted from the guidelines

September 29, 2023

Guest Opinion: Ten Years In, CA Active Transportation Program Lays Bare a Tale of Two Agencies

L.A. County needs to embrace physically-protected bikeways, robust traffic calming around schools, and similarly transformative, safety-focused projects

September 29, 2023

Commentary: Let’s Talk About the Real “Fatal Flaw” on Valencia

How many people have to die before professional advocates stop endorsing the Valencia Street "experiment" on people?

September 29, 2023

Friday’s Headlines

Caltrans, we need complete streets everywhere, including at freeway interchanges (or maybe especially there); Public agencies and academics join forces to develop AV standards; Republicans really want to suspend the gas tax; More

September 29, 2023
See all posts