As Vision Zero and the Safe System approach gain attention and support across the nation, it is important to remember that Vision Zero commitments need to be far more than just words or catchy taglines. This work is ambitious and challenging. And it is achievable. To move from commitment to action and to progress will take understanding where to start, who needs to be involved, and which strategies actually deliver results.
These questions were at the heart of our January 20th webinar, Vision Zero 101: From Fundamentals to Real-World Results. We revisit the core principles of the Safe System approach and dig into what it means to make meaningful, lasting changes to prioritize safety in our on-the-ground transportation work.
While some of the examples shared may appear modest on their own, together, they show that when communities invest in proven safety strategies, progress follows and those successes can and should be scaled up for bigger, more lasting safety success. This is a foundational webinar for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates interested in or working to advance safe and equitable mobility for all.
(see 1-hour recording and slidedeck from January 20, 2026)
What’s Covered in Vision Zero 101?
This session dives into key topics, including:
- The state of roadway safety in the U.S. and why a new approach is needed.
- An overview of Vision Zero fundamentals and how the Safe System approach differs from the traditional “Es” model of traffic safety.
- Real-world examples of Vision Zero in action across the U.S.
- Strategies for integrating public health principles and health equity into roadway safety work.
- Practical steps to begin prioritizing equity in Vision Zero plans for communities at various stages
Real-World Examples: What’s Working on the Ground
Participants heard a range of case studies from communities across the country demonstrating how targeted, evidence-based interventions are delivering measurable safety improvements on the ground, including the following:
- Milwaukee, WI achieved a 28% reduction in life-changing injury crashes at locations where Vision Zero improvements were completed in 2023. This includes adding speed humps that reduced excessive speeding from 30% to 2%, and protected bike lanes and traffic calming that cut the percentage of motorists exceeding the speed limit from 20% to 3%.
- Orlando, FL reduced traffic fatalities citywide by nearly 40% between 2020 and 2024. One focused strategy was to enhance street lighting at high-crash locations which helped reduce crashes by 34%.
- Minneapolis, MN reduced fatal crashes by 29% and severe crashes by 16% after scaling up curb extensions, lane conversions, intersection treatments, and bikeway striping between 2023 and 2024.
- Oakwood, OH, a small suburb near Dayton, reduced injury crashes by 87% after converting a four-lane road into two lanes with a center turn lane, medians, and bike lanes. Overall crashes also declined by 66%, and pedestrian crashes were eliminated.
- Fort Lauderdale, FL achieved speed reductions through traffic calming and bike lane installation. Following these improvements, the percentage of drivers that continued to exceed the speed limit decreased from 60% to less than 1% in the northbound direction. Follow up analysis done a year later showed that lowered speeds were sustained.
- Detroit, MI scaled up speed humps citywide, installing roughly 2,000 per year between 2018 and 2023. Analysis done in 2022 showed that residential street crashes dropped by 22%, and streets with speed humps experienced 14% fewer crashes than comparable streets without them.
- New Braunfels, TX used tailored traffic calming near schools and residential streets, such as speed humps, sidewalk extensions, and radar feedback signs, to reduce vehicle speeds by up to 23%.
Interested in more bright spots of progress? You can check out even more examples of both small and large scale safety successes via our What Works blogs.
Keep Learning
You can explore these examples and more than 100 additional Vision Zero Network webinars on our Vimeo channel. Be sure to check out our 10-Year Anniversary Top 10 Blog Series to see what’s giving us hope and where more work is still needed. And in the meantime, check out our resource library for more resources that cover all Vision Zero basics.
Whether your community is just beginning to explore Vision Zero or refining existing efforts, Vision Zero 101 provides the foundational knowledge and practical insights needed to make meaningful progress toward safer, more equitable streets.