What is Vision Zero?

Vision Zero is a type of strategy for eliminating all severe injuries and traffic fatalities, while increasing healthy, safe, equitable mobility for everyone. Vision Zero was originally implemented in the 1990s in Sweden, was proven successful all across Europe and is now gaining traction in major cities of the United States.

Every year, over 40,000 individuals are killed needlessly on U.S. streets. Thousands of individuals are injured. This is being called “suffering traffic accidents”, but realistically, traffic accidents can be prevented.

Severe injuries and traffic deaths are unacceptable and they can be prevented. Safety needs to be the most critical consideration on all streets.

 How Vision Zero Cities Differ from Other Cities

A city needs to meet certain requirements to become a part of Vision Zero. These requirements include:

• The mayor must commit to Vision Zero publicly
• Vision Zero and a strategy have been implemented
• The goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries has been set
• Public transportation, health and other substantial city departments are on board and committed

The primary focus areas for Vision Zero cities are:

• Enhancing cyclist and pedestrian safety
• Reducing impaired driving
• Improving road infrastructure
• Introducing safer car design
• Implementing safer speed limits
• Increasing the use of seat belts

To achieve Vision Zero goals, data is critical. Municipal fleets of vehicles play an essential role in Vision Zero’s focus for eliminating severe injuries and traffic fatalities.

Large cities, like New York City, are using telematics GPS tracking for boosting road safety. Those who manage the world’s biggest NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) municipal fleet have seriously recognized that analysis and data is the key to unlock the desired solutions. For this to work, they’ve installed GPS tracking telematics solutions throughout the fleet into more than 11,000 vehicles, including:

• Fire
• Police
• Snow removal
• Parks and recreation
• Sanitation

NYC can now make strategic and informed decisions for tackling this very serious concern for public safety because of telematics and the data it captures.

Telematics can monitor things like:

• Location
• Speed
• Driving behaviors
• Road conditions
• Traffic congestion
• Vehicle maintenance
• Accidents
• Environmental conditions

And, it reports this in real-time. Officials are armed for better understanding problems through advanced analytics from seeing variables like these and the accompanying data.

Vision Zero begins with the ethical belief that all individuals have the right to move in their communities safely and that policy makers and system designers share the responsibility of ensuring safe travel systems.

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