Statement of principles from Vision Zero for Cities Symposium should guide Lee Co. bike/ped safety efforts

As Lee County strives to address the challenge of eliminating preventable traffic injuries and deaths, the statement of principles drafted this week at the Vision Zero for Cities Symposium are ones that should guide our efforts.

Transportation Alternatives 

Wrap up: Vision Zero for Cities

Image courtesy of Andrew Hinderaker. 

T.A. Issues Vision Zero for Cities Symposium Statement of Principles

Participants Collectively Drafted 10-Point Document Following Expert Panels

November 19, 2014

Brian Zumhagen 646-873-6008

On November 14, 2014, more than 300 urban leaders, policymakers and authorities on traffic enforcement, engineering and public health met with advocates in New York City at the first-ever Vision Zero for Cities Symposium. The event brought together representatives from around the nation and the world for expert panels, interactive workshops and breakout sessions focused on strategies for eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The day's conversations culminated in a collectively drafted Vision Zero statement of principles intended to guide implementation. The principles are as follows:
1. Acknowledge the Vast Scale of Traffic Fatalities and Serious Injuries
Recognize the power of crash survivors and the families of people killed and seriously injured in traffic, and the widespread scale of traffic violence.
2. Focus Messaging to Promote a Culture of Traffic Safety
Communicate with singular focus on the behaviors that kill and injure the most people.
3. Promote Accountability
Ensure that the justice system holds individuals accountable for killing and injuring others in traffic.
4. Institutionalize Collaboration
Promote collaboration across various levels of government and between government officials and the public. Incorporate communities into traffic safety decision-making.
5. Protect the Most Vulnerable
Prioritize the most vulnerable street users with the goal of creating a culture where everyone knows to think twice and exercise due care.
6. Employ Data-Driven Enforcement
Employ data-driven and automated enforcement at every opportunity.
7. Design Forgiving Streets
Design streets in such a way that mistakes made by street users are less likely to result in serious injuries or fatalities.
8. Fund Safety
Prioritize safety in funding decisions.
9. Track Progress
Create time-bound goals to track progress toward Vision Zero and regularly re-evaluate strategy.
10. Empower Professional Drivers
Empower professional drivers to lead by example and imbue them with the understanding that their livelihood depends on safe driving.
The principles can be viewed on the Transportation Alternatives website at http://transalt.org/vzcswrapup
- See more at: http://transalt.org/news/releases/7797#sthash.sDB67f0u.dpuf

Collectively Drafted Statement of Principles

On November 14, 2014, more than 300 urban leaders, policymakers and authorities on traffic enforcement, engineering and public health met with advocates in New York City at the first-ever Vision Zero for Cities Symposium. The event brought together representatives from around the nation and the world for expert panels, interactive workshops and breakout sessions focused on strategies for eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The day's conversations culminated in a collectively drafted Vision Zero statement of principles intended to guide implementation. The principles are as follows:

1. Acknowledge the Vast Scale of Traffic Fatalities and Serious Injuries

Recognize the power of crash survivors and the families of people killed and seriously injured in traffic, and the widespread scale of traffic violence.

2. Focus Messaging to Promote a Culture of Traffic Safety

Communicate with singular focus on the behaviors that kill and injure the most people.

3. Promote Accountability

Ensure that the justice system holds individuals accountable for killing and injuring others in traffic.

4. Institutionalize Collaboration

Promote collaboration across various levels of government and between government officials and the public. Incorporate communities into traffic safety decision-making.

5. Protect the Most Vulnerable

Prioritize the most vulnerable street users with the goal of creating a culture where everyone knows to think twice and exercise due care.

6. Employ Data-Driven Enforcement

Employ data-driven and automated enforcement at every opportunity.

7. Design Forgiving Streets

Design streets in such a way that mistakes made by street users are less likely to result in serious injuries or fatalities.

8. Fund Safety

Prioritize safety in funding decisions.

9. Track Progress

Create time-bound goals to track progress toward Vision Zero and regularly re-evaluate strategy.

10. Empower Professional Drivers

Empower professional drivers to lead by example and imbue them with the understanding that their livelihood depends on safe driving. 

The principles can be viewed on the Transportation Alternatives website at http://transalt.org/vzcswrapup

- See more at: http://transalt.org/news/releases/7797#sthash.sDB67f0u.dpuf