When discussing traffic safety, the lives so deeply impacted by injuries and fatalities can sometimes be minimized in technical and scientific jargon. Discussions about “level-of-service” for drivers or standards for traffic control devices tend to ignore the emotional and societal toll of 40,000 lives lost to traffic fatalities each year in the U.S. Fortunately, the […]
Vision Zero Network Hire Boosts Nationwide Advocacy for Safe Mobility
New Deputy Director Veronica Vanterpool Brings Extensive Skills, Experience to Unprecedented Push for Zero Traffic Deaths Three years after its initial launch in San Francisco and the growth of U.S. Vision Zero communities from 3 to more than 30, the nonprofit Vision Zero Network is thrilled to announce that it is stepping up its advocacy […]
Lessons from London’s Inspired
Vision Zero Action Plan
In late July, London released a new Vision Zero Action Plan. To call it impressive would be an understatement. In particular, we appreciate that the plan has healthy portions of two key ingredients: Vision and Action. London’s recently announced Vision Zero commitment sets the goal of eliminating all traffic deaths and severe injuries by 2041, […]
On the Way to Vision Zero: San Francisco’s Crisis Response Team, a Model Program
Tragically, we are still far from reaching Vision Zero in most of our communities, as people’s lives are shattered or even lost each day simply while walking, biking, or driving. These preventable deaths and injuries are, of course, tragic enough. Yet, victims’ loved ones may have their grief compounded even further with feelings of frustration […]
Webinar recap: Fort Lauderdale and Vision Zero for Mid-Sized Cities
More mid-sized cities are committing to Vision Zero. For Fort Lauderdale, the need was urgent: the city was consistently ranked as one of the worst places for traffic fatalities, and residents identified safety as a top concern. In this Vision Zero 101 webinar, Vision Zero Network’s Founder and Director Leah Shahum presented the core Vision […]
Vision Zero in Mid-Sized Cities: Spotlight on Fort Lauderdale
Vision Zero is often associated with big cities in the U.S. — New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Boston are a few that come to mind — but Vision Zero’s Safe Systems approach can work for communities big and small. In an effort to demonstrate effective Vision Zero programs in mid-sized cities, the Network has […]
Changing Culture to Save Lives: Mexico City’s Bold Commitment to Vision Zero
The world’s fifth largest metropolitan area is helping more people move about safely, while also demonstrating that Vision Zero is a viable solution for communities well beyond its birthplace of Europe. Mexico City committed to Vision Zero in 2015, and in its first two years has successfully reduced traffic deaths by a notable 18%, including […]
Change is Happening: Q & A with Kathleen Ferrier, Outgoing VZN Staff
Kathleen Ferrier, the Vision Zero Network’s Policy & Communications Director, is moving on to a new position as Policy Director with her local councilmember in San Diego. Since joining us, she has been an indispensable member of our team. We are tremendously thankful to Kathleen for her notable accomplishments in advancing Vision Zero in the […]
Top 5 Vision Zero Trends of 2016
2016 was a monumental year for Vision Zero across the United States.
The number of cities committing to Vision Zero more than doubled, and interest in adopting meaningful, action-driven policies for safe streets has spread from a few early-adopter, big, coastal cities to communities large and small across the country. As we roll into 2017 with a challenge that is as big as ever, it’s helpful to look back at the trends — both promising and troubling — that shaped Vision Zero progress in 2016.
Joint Departmental Vision Zero Budget Requests: An L.A. Case Study
Cross-departmental collaboration is one of the necessary elements for effective Vision Zero efforts. Traffic safety is not the purview of any single department, and Vision Zero projects often demand buy-in and leadership from multiple agencies within a city structure, including Transportation, Public Works, Police, and Public Health, among others. While it’s not glamorous or even visible to most of the public, one of the most important things a city can do is make sure its internal processes allow for – and even incentivize – strong cooperation between agencies to advance Vision Zero.