Vision Zero

WHAT

Vision Zero is an international traffic safety movement guided by the principle that no loss of life on our streets is acceptable. Traffic crashes are not mere “accidents,” but preventable incidents that can be reduced and eliminated with systemic changes.

Chicago first committed to Vision Zero in 2012 and released a three-year Vision Zero Action Plan in June 2017. Active Trans consulted with the city on the development of the plan. The plan set forth the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2026.

One of the advantages of the Vision Zero approach to traffic safety is that it requires the collaboration of all city agencies working on our streets, not just the department of transportation. Ten city agencies are now participating in Chicago’s initiative, including the department of public health, the police department and the department of fleet and facility management.

WHY

In 2014, more than 150 people walking, biking or driving were killed in traffic crashes and more than more than 24,000 people were injured. Every one of these crashes is preventable and we know the strategies that other cities have used to reduce crashes, prevent serious injuries and save lives.

Learn about the human impact of traffic crashes in these victims stories from a special edition of our newsletter:

• Ethan Gross
• Cherrell Jackson
• Blaine Klingenberg
• Kaylah Lentine
• Amy Mendelsohn
• Dee Palagi

GOALS

In order to reduce injuries and save lives, we are advocating for city leaders to pursue policy changes in the following key areas to advance Chicago’s Vision Zero goal:

•         Speed reduction
•         Commercial vehicle regulation
•         Ending hit and runs
•         Turn restrictions
•         Education
•         Infrastructure and street design
•         Fair traffic enforcement 

NEWS

Vision Zero Action Plan focuses on reducing vehicle speeds (6/12/17)

Vision Zero needs more funding to make progress (3/27/17)

Study highlights safety benefits of Chicago's red light cameras (3/20/17)

Chicago needs more fair and effective enforcement (1/16/17)

Redesigning our streets for people – not cars – saves lives (12/20/16)

Boosting safety with education campaigns (12/1/16)

Limiting turns could save lives (11/8/16)

Slow down, Chicago! (10/26/16)

Hit and run crashes should be a focus of Vision Zero (10/13/16)

Protect people biking and walking from trucks (9/30/16)

Chicago developing Vision Zero Action Plan (9/9/16)

We know how to do this (8/19/16)

Meeting planned for families of crash victims (6/30/16)

No more ghost bikes (5/19/16)

Chicago commits to more progress on Vision Zero (1/26/16)

Time for Chicago to step up its Vision Zero efforts (6/14/15)

Vision Zero campaign aims to eliminate traffic fatalities (3/25/15)

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If you’re excited by the prospect of helping spread the word about our campaigns to improve biking, walking and public transit in Chicagoland, you should become an Active Trans Ambassador. Get trained, attend events and share your knowledge.