Is Vision Zero Helping Eliminate Traffic Deaths?

A recent report released by Streetsblog shows some encouraging signs from a handful of cities which have participated in Vision Zero since 2010. Even though many cities do still struggle with certain issues, the report indicates they are making progress toward their stated goal of zero traffic-related fatalities. A detailed article on the report and its finding is available here.

Active in many cities across the U.S. and Canada; the Vision Zero campaign strives to eliminate traffic deaths in urban areas by reducing speeds, building safer streets, fighting distracted or impaired driving, and holding both drivers and pedestrians responsible for traffic safety. In our area, NC Vision Zero has worked to lower speed limits, install speed radar, and initiate other traffic safety reforms.

A Hard Look at Difficult Numbers

As we reported in an earlier blog, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 5,376 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle accidents nationwide in 2015. Closer to home, some 1,412 North Carolina citizens lost their lives in traffic accidents during 2017.

The Current Trend

The report indicates a handful of cities have made improvements since 2016. While Seattle, Boston, and Portland have seen steady declines over several years; the pattern toward fewer fatalities in both New York and San Francisco appears to be a more recent development. Safety advocates and supporters of Vision Zero laud the progress they see but suggest not enough is being done to lower the number of deaths and serious injuries.

A representative of the Vision Zero Network—the non-profit created to help promote safety in participating cities—notes progress toward zero fatalities is unlikely to be linear. That progress is not expected to be quick or easy—and the success of the program is difficult to determine from a single snapshot, table, or graph.

Local Efforts

Last year, NC Vision Zero met at the North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh for the World Day of Remembrance—which honors those we have lost in traffic accidents. Henson Fuerst is pleased to support NC Vision Zero—and hopes their initiatives can lead to the kind of change needed to eliminate pedestrian fatalities.

We Can Help

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident through no fault of your own, call the experienced North Carolina Pedestrian Accident Attorneys at Henson Fuerst today at 919-781-1107 or complete a free initial consultation form.

When you call, you will speak with one of our experienced Raleigh Personal Injury Attorneys. They will investigate every detail of your situation at no cost to you—and fight hard to protect your rights. At Henson Fuerst, you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front—and you owe us nothing unless we recover for you.

Call Henson Fuerst, Because Your Case Matters

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