Future of Cars and City Safety: A Quick Look

The big idea about self‑driving cars is that they could stop a lot of crashes, because no one gets tired or distracted. A state transport official said that in 2023 California lost about four thousand people in road accidents, and the new cars might cut that number. Those vehicles could also help lower pollution if they run on clean energy and become part of public transit. At the same time, a park in San Francisco is getting a new name. The city will call its baseball and softball fields the “Willie Mays Fields of Champions” after a famous player. The change comes with a new recreation center that will replace old fields that often close because of rain or wear. The Giants team is giving the city 28 million dollars in cash and supplies to help build a $50 million project. People should be careful about phone calls that claim they are from the court. In Santa Clara County, scammers pretend to be judges or police officers and ask for money or personal data. The court says that real officials never call to demand secrets, so anyone who gets a strange message should contact the police or the court’s jury office. The state has declared emergencies in three coastal counties after last year’s storms. The governor can send extra help and money to communities that were hit hard by flooding, mudslides and damaged roads. The storms came from heavy rain and strong winds that overwhelmed local drainage systems.In San Francisco’s Chinatown, a 76‑year‑old driver was taken into custody for running over a pedestrian while trying to park. The accident happened on a busy street with lots of foot traffic, and the driver stayed at the scene to help police investigate. The victim died from the injuries. A crash on Highway 1 in Sea Ranch involved a Tesla and a pickup truck. The Tesla driver tried to turn left and collided with the truck, killing the Tesla passenger and injuring others. The highway patrol says that the pickup could not avoid the crash. An adult who bought alcohol for a minor faces a fine of at least $1, 000. In Santa Clara County, a clerk stopped a teenager from buying drinks, but an adult offered to buy them instead. The store then sold the alcohol to that adult, who gave it to the minor. A power outage in Santa Cruz hit 18, 500 customers. A problem at a Pacific Gas & Electric substation caused the loss of electricity, but crews fixed it within two hours and everyone had power back. Lafayette is planning a new walking and biking route that will connect neighborhoods, shops and the train station. State money of $3. 7 million will fund part of the path, while the city looks for more federal money to finish other sections. Construction should start in 2029. The weather forecast says the Bay Area will be mostly sunny or cloudy on Saturday, with temperatures in the high 60s to low 80s. Warm weather will continue over the weekend, but cooler air is expected on Monday and thunderstorms might come by Tuesday.