Recognize Five New Communities Stepping Up Their Vision Zero Work

Across the country, communities continue to step up their road safety work, often leading with ambitious, Safe System-centered plans. We’re thrilled to recognize five such communities and add them to our official Vision Zero communities map. Welcome to Deerfield Beach, FL; Milwaukee, WI; Oklahoma City, OK; Vista, CA; and Tacoma, WA.

The Vision Zero Network Recognition Program uplifts U.S. communities that are backing up public commitments with concrete, Safe System–based plans and actions. Recognized communities show how they are building a strong Vision Zero foundation that includes clear goals and timelines backed up by electeds, collaborative work between agencies and community members, a holistic approach to data and equity to underscore decision-making, and actions to maintain transparency and accountability.

Curious if your city is on the map — or could be? Learn what it takes to be recognized and join the growing list of leaders raising the bar for traffic safety.

Here are a few highlights from the five newly recognized Vision Zero communities:

Deerfield Beach, FL recognizes the importance of and is investing in leadership continuity for its Vision Zero work. The City’s Action Plan formalizes a process in which Vision Zero Task Force members serve as “Vision Zero ambassadors” to orient newly elected and re-elected city officials. During these briefings, officials learn about the City’s commitment to Vision Zero and Complete Streets policies, and they are encouraged to prioritize the legacy of Vision Zero during their terms in office. Deerfield Beach is showing how planning for long-term continuity, not just projects, can institutionalize Vision Zero progress even as leadership changes.

Milwaukee, WI is taking on the important work of better aligning state policies with Vision Zero needs. The City’s Action Plan includes working towards a statewide Complete Streets policy, reforming licensing and insurance standards for drivers, replacing “accident” with “crash” in state-level communications and guidelines, and advocating for more equitable and flexible funding. Milwaukee is showing how the pathway to Vision Zero depends not only on what the city does, but on how state-level leadership influences success. A major focus for the city is also the city’s Safe Roads Save Lives Act, which would authorize a speed safety camera pilot program in Milwaukee. The proposed program emphasizes transparency, equity, and accountability, with privacy protections, public awareness campaigns, and reinvestment of revenue into infrastructure and more. Similar programs, as done in San Francisco, have proven highly effective, cutting speeding vehicles by 72% at camera locations.

Tacoma, WA is addressing one of the most overlooked elements of the Safe System approach: Safe Vehicles. While vehicle regulation is often seen as a federal responsibility, Tacoma understands that localities still have meaningful levers for progress, specifically through their own fleets and procurement standards. In its Vision Zero plan, Tacoma’s strategies include adding sideguards on fleet vehicles and replacing their larger fleet vehicles with smaller models that have fewer blind spots and are more compatible with traffic-calming designs. Tacoma is demonstrating how local communities can lead by example for safer vehicles on its streets.

Oklahoma City, OK’s Vision Zero Plan includes actions to prioritize disadvantaged communities for engagement, project delivery and safety countermeasures After analyzing which groups are overrepresented in serious and fatal crashes, the City developed targeted strategies to address those inequities. This includes an emphasis on designing a safer built environment and not over-relying on after-the-fact enforcement. The City also recognizes the risks of unintended harms, such as displacement and traffic diversion, so its Plan lays out ways to pair road safety improvements with anti-displacement policies and planning for adjacent neighborhoods. Oklahoma City is demonstrating what it looks like to treat equity as an integral part of Vision Zero, not just an add-on. See more examples in Vision Zero Network’s Prioritizing Health Equity in Vision Zero Planning.

Vista, CA is using data not just to map where the most dangerous roadways are, but also to ground their investments in ways that are fair and most effective. Vista combines their High Injury Network data with a range of other inputs to prioritize investments. The City uses an eight-factor scoring system to assess priorities; the factors include safety needs, equity needs, pedestrian and bicyclist crashes, Complete Streets opportunities, and community and staff input. This structured approach helps Vista leverage data into a repeatable internal process for investing where safety gains will be greatest. Learn more about the prioritization process in their action plan.

Interested in Vision Zero Network Recognition?

Is your community taking action to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries? Through the Recognition Program, local leaders become part of a growing network of peers dedicated towards advancing Vision Zero. Specifically, recognized communities benefit from the following:

• Visibility on the Vision Zero Network map, highlighting your leadership and commitment. Take a closer look at recognized Vision Zero communities.
• Learning Sessions & networking through peer exchanges with a nationwide network of Vision Zero champions, including an invite-only listserv for sharing best practices and lessons learned and meetings geared to address top Vision Zero issues.
• Resources & Support to strengthen and grow your Vision Zero efforts.

Check out the minimum requirements and Planning & Strategies Assessment for more information about what’s required to be recognized.

The next round of submissions will start on February 9, 2026 and close on March 31, 2026. There is no cost to apply or participate.