What is Vision Zero?

An accident is defined as “an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury.” Each year, more than 40,000 people die on American streets and thousands more suffer severe injuries. We’ve often referred to these as “accidents” and accepted the ensuing sufferings — personal, emotional, and economical — as a reality of modern life. The truth of the matter is that traffic accidents are preventable.

Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate ALL traffic fatalities and severe injuries. It was first implemented in Sweden in the 1990s and is gaining momentum in the United States, with many cities mobilizing to address ways to ensure safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all road users through leadership, data analyzation, community engagement, engineering, and safety resources.  

Vision Zero brings together leaders in local government, public health, traffic engineering, police enforcement, policymakers, community leaders, and the private sector with innovative approaches, policies, and practices to prioritize safety for all and achieve a shared goal of zero fatalities and severe injuries.