127,122

customers without power from accidents in 2020

263 vehicles

hit SMUD equipment in 2020

$15 thousand

in repair costs per pole

Car pole safety

We replace a power pole about every other day because of a car accident.

Your safety is our first priority

We're seeing more cars hit our power poles, often because of distracted driving.

We don't want to see anyone get hurt. 4 lives were lost in 2020.

Watch our video or read below on what to do if you hit a power pole.

Please steer clear of the poles and drive safely.

Tips in case you hit a power pole

	Stay in your car and call 911.

	If the car is on fire, jump out, keeping your feet together and shuffle away from the scene.		Get at least 40 feet away and do not go back.
	Do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.		Call 911 and warn others to stay away from the area.

On the road

Tips for safe driving

We want to keep you safe, both in and out of your home. When driving:

Be safe always

Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Pay attention to and obey all speed limits and signs.
If you are drowsy, pull off the road.
Check both sides of the street before crossing at a green light.
Make sure that you and your passengers are always wearing seatbelts.

Avoid distractions

Use your cell phone for emergency situations only and after pulling over.
Limit the number of passengers and activity inside the car.
Avoid eating while driving.
Do not attempt to multi-task while operating a vehicle.

Take extra care

Adjust your driving during extreme weather conditions.
If you have to be somewhere on time, leave early.

Car accident statistics

How many?

Total car accidents involving SMUD equipment:

2014 - 156
2015 - 226
2016 - 271
2017 - 241
2018 - 242
2019 - 252
2020 - 263

How serious?

2017 - 5 lives lost
2018 - 6 lives lost
2019 - 2 lives lost
2020 - 4 lives lost

When?

Most car accidents with SMUD equipment happen December - May.

Who pays?

Drivers are ultimately responsible for all the damages related to the accident.

Outages

4-6% of all outages are caused by a car accident with SMUD equipment.

2014 - 4%
2015 - 5%
2016 - 6%
2017 - 4%
2018 - 6%
2019 - 5%
2020 - 7%

How much?

It costs about $15,000 to replace a power pole.

Includes the cost to replace the SMUD equipment only
Does not include the cost of other personal property damaged like the car, or any bodily injury

Keeping you safe on the road

If a power pole is hit multiple times, we look at solutions to reduce the risk that it will be hit again:

Install higher visibility reflective strips. All new poles get these as a standard.	Install large, protective barriers around the pole.	Relocate the pole or structure.

Life is priceless