Vision Zero was a phrase that most people working on traffic safety or related public policy issues had never even heard of. That’s not the case anymore Mayors, police chiefs, transportation professionals and community leaders in more than 20 U.S. cities have set Vision Zero goals of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries within their communities. Under the mantle of Vision Zero, they are bringing together a wide range of local leaders – including policymakers, community members and professionals in the realms of transportation, public health and law enforcement – to set and shape a shared goal to keep all people safe as they move about their communities. Today, these leaders acknowledge that the high number of tragedies on our roadways is largely predictable and preventable. And they are stepping up to declare that “enough is enough” and to devise plans and policies for a safe future on our roadways, sidewalks and bikeways. Just as we expect the right to safe water to drink and clean air to breathe in today’s civilized society, so too should we expect the right to move about safely. At the state and federal levels, too, we are seeing an acknowledgement that the time has come to change our thinking and approach to traffic safety. In late 2016, we saw the U.S. federal government’s bold pledge to change business as usual in its launch of the Road to Zero campaign, setting the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities nationwide within the next 30 years. And more than 40 U.S. states incorporate a Toward Zero Deaths approach into their safety work and are increasingly interested in supporting local Vision Zero e?orts. Even the media is recognizing the changing cultural norms. The Associated Press recently updated its recommended language from traffic “accidents” to “crashes,” acknowledging that these are not random calamites, but rather something we have collective and individual control over. It is at the local level that we are seeing the boldest and most innovative approach to shifting the traffic safety paradigm in the U.S. And this leadership could not come soon enough, as 35,092 people were killed in 2015 on the roadways, ending a 5-decade trend of declining fatalities with a 7.2% increase in traffic deaths from 2014. With an average of 90 people dying each day in traffic in the U.S. — more than via gun violence -- we are in the midst of a public health crisis that demands greater attention from policymakers, professionals, and the public at all levels. The dramatic growth in Vision Zero commitments in communities across the nation, as well as stepped up interest at the state and federal levels, is encouraging. But now we need to ensure that the fast-growing, shared vision translates to action and results. A true Vision Zero commitment is not a sign-on letter nor a slogan. It is a fundamental shift in philosophy and approach to traffic safety. It is acknowledging that business as usual is not enough and that systemic changes are needed in our traffic safety work to make meaningful progress. This will not be easy, but it will be worthwhile. At best, Vision Zero has the potential to galvanize a thorough and lasting shift in how we design and use our transportation systems to prioritize the preservation and quality of human life. At worst, Vision Zero runs the risk of becoming a short-lived trend or watered-down slogan that provides only lip service toward real, life-saving change. There is peril in well-meaning leaders adopting symbolic resolutions that fail to acknowledge and incorporate the significant systemic changes necessary to shift the paradigm of traffic safety. We recognize that it is appealing to support Vision Zero in principle; it is far more difficult to take the bold steps necessary to implement it meaningfully and effectively. This document was developed to assist policymakers, community members, and professionals, particularly in the realms of transportation, law enforcement, and public health to develop, implement, measure, and communicate clear, meaningful expectations for Vision Zero. While we can study and draw inspiration from successes in countries such as Sweden in dramatically reducing traffic fatalities, the U.S. cannot simply copy and paste a Vision Zero template from abroad. Instead, we can and are defining a uniquely American version of Vision Zero that fits our cultural, legal, political, and historical contexts. While we adapt this powerful idea to U.S. communities, it is critical that our e?orts embrace the fundamental principles of Vision Zero and take the challenge seriously of ensuring safe mobility for all. (Author/publisher)
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