Two bills sponsored by San Bernardino-area legislators that aim to make it harder for Californians to kill themselves on bridges have been signed into law.
Assemblymember James Ramos, D-San Bernardino, and state Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes, D-Colton, authored the bills after two Rancho Cucamonga teenagers killed themselves on the 210 Freeway at the Haven Avenue overpass in September 2024.
“California must do more to confront the great tragedy of suicide in our communities,” Ramos said in a news release issued by his office. “Sadly, it is the third leading cause of death for persons 10 to 24 years of age, and the second leading cause of death among Native American youth 10 to 20 years of age.”
On Friday, Oct. 3, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Ramos’ bill, Assembly Bill 440, which requires the state to identify the state-controlled bridges and roadways with the most suicides and the most attempted suicides. The state then has to report back to the Legislature on potential strategies to reduce deaths by the end of 2027.
Three days later, the governor signed Senate Bill 800, introduced by Reyes and sponsored by the city of Rancho Cucamonga, requiring the Department of Transportation to include suicide deterrent measures in its guidelines for bridges and overpasses on the state highway system.
“The rising number of suicide incidents from freeway overpasses is not only a profound tragedy for individuals and families but also a serious public safety concern for motorists, first responders, and the broader community,” Reyes said, adding it is her “sincere hope” the legislation will save lives “in moments of crisis.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the No. 1 cause of violent death in the United States, and the 10th most common cause of all deaths.
Prior to the Haven Avenue overpass deaths last year, other bridges across California already had barriers in place to prevent people from jumping to their deaths.
In January 2024, a physical suicide barrier was installed that runs the full 1.7-mile length of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. By November, it was already being hailed as a success, with only eight suicides occurring by Nov. 21, significantly down from the average of 30 a year. The project cost $224 million in federal and state funding, bridge toll revenues and donations from individuals and foundations.
According to the National Institutes of Health, there is “overwhelming evidence” that creating physical barriers on bridges can reduce suicides, with those thwarted at bridges not moving to another location or other suicide method.
“Individuals in distress often need just a pause to reconsider actions that can lead to irreversible harm to themselves and loved ones,” Ramos said. “Barriers on bridges and other interventions can create that pause and prevent tragedies.”
CalTrans is now developing suicide-deterrent systems for the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge and Ventura County’s Arroyo Simi Overhead Bridge. The projects are estimated to cost $124 million and $10 million, respectively.
Suicide prevention isn’t a new topic for Ramos. In 2020, his AB 2112 created California’s Office of Suicide Prevention, which coordinates the state’s suicide prevention efforts. Since then, he’s continued to advocate for suicide prevention, especially in the Native American community, as the first Native American from a California tribe in the state Legislature.
How to get help
If you or someone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, mental health resources are available, including free and low-cost services. They include:
- The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org
- Crisis Text Line: CrisisTextLine.org
- Know the Signs: SuicideIsPreventable.org
- The Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Resources and Programs page: SPRC.org/resources-programs
- The Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net
- The National Council for Behavioral Health’s Find a Behavioral Health Provider page: TheNationalCouncil.org/providers/?region=CA
- Born This Way Foundation’s Get Help Now page: BornThisWay.foundation/get-help-now
- Hayden’s Corner: HaydensCorner.org