How does Vision Zero as a goal or concept translate into actually having safer streets?
We know that a vehicle’s speed is the most critical factor in the severity of a traffic injury.
That means we need to bring speeds down to safe levels.
Automated speed enforcement is less subjective than officer-initiated enforcement.
Everyone wants safety on our roadways, so that offers a real opportunity for common ground.
It’s something we can all agree on.
That’s when resistance to Vision Zero can arise.
This is why Vision Zero emphasizes gathering and sharing data.
Doing so helps illustrate what the safety problems are and what will work to make streets safe.
We’re talking about injuries or deaths of someone’s mother, someone’s child, someone’s friend.
These are tragedies that wecanprevent.
They’re a very powerful force.
Vision Zero, at its essence, is really about the choices we make.
Until now, leaders in many places have chosen to prioritize speed over safety.
That’s all different now.
A similar cultural shift has occurred with the vast increase in people wearing seat belts in cars.
Most people agree that everyone deserves to be safe on the streets, whether walking, bicycling or driving.
Complete Streets policies can be strengthened when safety is the guiding force.
Published October 2016
