Vision Zero is an international program aiming to implement safe roadway systems and traffic awareness. The program’s ultimate goal is to eradicate all deaths and severe injuries from automobile accidents. Understanding the nature of the program and its implementation in Arlington can help everyone know what steps to take to make our streets safer and our community more enjoyable.
Where Was Vision Zero First Implemented?
The concept of Vision Zero first emerged in Sweden in the 1990s. The movement’s founders saw existing responses to traffic fatalities as reactive and scattered. They wanted to institute a broader approach that focused on systemic improvement. One of the key recognitions of the Vision Zero approach is that humans make mistakes, so the road system requires a design that is more forgiving of errors.
What Are Some of the Key Principles of Vision Zero?
The driving idea behind Vision Zero is that road deaths and injuries are preventable. While each community has its unique way of implementing Vision Zero, all programs share a set of five central tenets:
- Leadership and collaboration to create a goals-driven, multidisciplinary process
- Data collection and analysis to understand trends
- Engagement and equity to ensure everyone in the community has a stake
- Urgency and accountability for those responsible for traffic infrastructure
- Safe roadway design and speeds to account for human behavior and error
What Is the Safe System Approach?
Vision Zero utilizes a Safe System approach, which designs a road system to account for human mistakes and minimize the impact of crashes. Achieving the desired results means implementing comprehensive strategies across the five “E’s”:
- Engineering – Infrastructure design and roadway improvements can reduce speed, increase visibility, and separate different modes of transportation. Examples include curb extensions, pedestrian islands, bike lanes, and roundabouts.
- Enforcement – Targeted police enforcement and automated speed cameras in high crash locations aim to deter dangerous behaviors like speeding, distraction, and impairment.
- Education – Safety campaigns and training promote safe walking, biking, driving, and public transit use. Education raises awareness of key issues and risky behaviors.
- Engagement – Partnering with community groups and stakeholders can promote Vision Zero and obtain input on priorities and solutions. Engagement ensures community ownership.
- Evaluation – Continuous data analysis and assessment of existing conditions, progress on actions, and impact of improvements enable an evidence-based approach.
By utilizing strategies across these five E’s, the Safe System approach creates a more forgiving environment that accounts for inevitable human errors.
When Did Vision Zero Start in Arlington?
In July 2019, the Arlington County Board adopted a resolution committing to Vision Zero. The resolution directed the county to:
- Develop Vision Zero goals and an action plan based on analysis of traffic collisions in Arlington
- Ensure the Action Plan addresses any inequity in traffic deaths and injuries
- Engage the community in the development and implementation of the plan
- Provide regular reporting on implementation and traffic fatalities and injuries
After a public hearing, the Arlington County Board adopted its first five-year Vision Zero Action Plan in May 2021. This decision set a roadmap for the effort to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the county by 2030.
What Have Been the Results of the Program?
In the first year of the Vision Zero initiative, Arlington had 4 fatal and 61 severe crashes. The overall number of collisions was lower than in previous years. However, the county attributes the overall crash reduction to reduced traffic levels during the pandemic. The county tracks progress by analyzing factors involved in severe crashes, such as speed, alcohol impairment, and collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists.
Some accomplishments from just the first year include:
- Completing 36 small-scale safety projects
- Analyzing 69 high-crash locations
- Facilitating 55 transportation safety classes and events
- Coordinating with VDOT to identify more than 20 safety fixes
- Approving speed cameras in school and work zones
In the second year, the number of collisions in Arlington decreased again to 4 fatal and 49 severe crashes.
What Are the Plans for the Future?
Arlington’s Vision Zero initiative plans to continue improving data collection, performing traffic studies, and implementing infrastructure changes to enhance safety in the coming years. There will also be expanded community engagement through awareness campaigns concentrated on reducing risky driving behaviors.
Other plans include:
- Evaluating additional reduced speed limits
- Assessing sidewalk connectivity and improvements
- Prioritizing safety in the Capital Improvement Plan
- Adding staff dedicated to Vision Zero
The goal remains zero traffic fatalities and severe injuries in Arlington by 2030. With the Action Plan guiding efforts, the county is working across departments and with the community to make this vision a reality.
Contact an Arlington Car Accident Attorney
Until Vision Zero becomes a reality in Arlington, everyone who uses our roads is susceptible to life-altering injuries. When this happens, the responsible parties must be held accountable for their negligence. If you have suffered injuries in a car accident in Arlington, the personal injury attorneys at Marks & Harrison can help you secure the compensation you deserve. With over 100 years of experience obtaining justice for Virginia accident victims, we have the skill and dedication to handle even the most complex injury cases.
At Marks & Harrison, we understand the challenges injured people face when recovering after a crash. Our team will handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on healing while we fight to maximize your compensation.
Choose Marks & Harrison for:
- A proven track record of delivering results, including some of the most significant financial recoveries in Virginia
- Extensive resources, including accident investigators, medical experts, and bilingual staff
- Personal attention from an attorney assigned to your case from start to finish
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- Free case reviews and no fees unless we win your case
The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start building your claim. Call our offices today or contact us online for your free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
