U.S. DOT Adopts Vision Zero

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced October 5 that it has committed $1 million a year for the next three years to a national Vision Zero program.

The campaign relies on a large coalition of safety advocates, data and behavioral scientists, community planners, policy analysts, and officials at all levels government.

Though a target date to reach zero traffic deaths nationwide is not specified, the plan identifies short-term actions in the service of long-term goals. From the press release:

Our short-term focus is to promote innovative strategies that save lives over the next three to five years. Those strategies include improving seat belt use and motorcycle helmet; redesigning streets; truck safety; and leading driver behavioral change campaigns.

In the long term, our efforts will focus on overall system design, new vehicle technology, enforcement, and behavioral safety. With the rapid introduction of automated vehicle technologies that may prove to be a road safety game changer, our goal of zero deaths is achievable in our lifetimes.

The DOT will also be awarding competitive grants to national organizations to implement “innovative strategies” to reduce traffic deaths.