Vision Zero programs seek to eliminate automobile-related pedestrian injury & fatalities through comprehensive infrastructure, communications and enforcement activities.
Benefits & Problems Addressed
Reducing Fatalities: Auto-related injuries are a leading cause of death in US cities, particularly for children.
Tips & Techniques
Partners: Cities need to pull in multiple departments such as Transportation, Police, Engineering, Fire, Public Works/Streets, Public Health, Schools, Planning, and Information Services/GIS to ensure success. Also include pedestrian, planning & transportation commissions and non-profits. Enlist local grant-makers to fund and disseminate safety materials.
Data-driven improvements: Use crash and health data to determine injury/fatality hotspots. Study surroundings to determine the root cases (speed, blind spots, construction, time-of-day, vehicle types, land uses). Post maps showing the public hotspots & improvements.
Common fixes: (1) Speed enforcement. (2) Curb extensions (to reduce the distance pedestrians traverse crossing streets).(3) Improved lighting. (4) Re-timing pedestrian "Walk" signals for a head start before lights for autos turn green. (5) "Scramble" intersections where all traffic stops to allow pedestrians to cross in all directions.
Pre- & Post Studies: Plan monitoring studies to constantly determine the effectiveness of interventions & improvements.
Hot Buttons: Zero’s high level of ambition. Cities are replacing "auto accidents" with "auto crashes," which sparks debates. Enforcement with cameras is an on-going debate as well.
Resources
Vision Zero Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA US
Vision ZeroSF: San Francisco, CA US