A Vision for Transportation Safety: Framework for Identifying Best Practice Strategies to Advance Vision Zero

Abstract

The Traffic Safety Best Practices Matrix is presented. It is a tool to help U.S. cities to identify the landscape of strategies being used domestically and internationally to advance Vision Zero, as pioneered by Sweden. Many cities across the United States have expressed an interest in Vision Zero, with a growing number passing policies calling for the elimination of traffic-related fatalities over the next decade. Despite the increase in interest, little guidance exists around what Vision Zero is and what actions can be implemented to help realize zero deaths. The matrix culls together the results of an extensive examination of the measures that cities and countries are pursuing to reduce traffic-related fatalities and improve safety. The matrix attempts to bridge the gap by presenting a framework that cities can use to identify effective strategies, benchmark their efforts relative to other jurisdictions, and reach out to cities and countries pursing Vision Zero policies for additional information. An analysis of the matrix, focuses on three categories: measures with widespread adoption, limited implementation, and minimal utilization. There is discussion of how these findings can inform the next steps for Vision Zero implementation, with a focus on implications for U.S. cities. The main recommendations are to develop mechanisms that institutionalize Vision Zero across sectors, focus education on supporting changes in organizational practices and policy reform, improve collaboration across all levels of government, explore technology that meets the unique needs of cities, and create data systems that facilitate accountability and encourage public participation.