Pedestrian accidents have surged in East LA, particularly on Whittier Boulevard, where traffic deaths rose by 15% last year, according to CBS Los Angeles. A recent incident involving a student from Garfield High has renewed calls for better street lighting and safer crosswalks near schools. “There aren’t enough crosswalks or lights, and drivers go too fast,” said Veronica Cruz, a senior at Garfield. Students can join local advocacy groups like Streets for All or petition city officials to prioritize safer streets through initiatives like Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities.