WHAT IS SAFE STREETS ARLINGTON ?
Safe System Principles
Table 1 . Safe System Principles
Death and serious injury are unacceptable
While no crashes are desirable , the Safe System approach prioritizes crashes that result in death and serious injuries , since no one should experience either when using the transportation system .
Humans make mistakes
People will inevitably make mistakes that can lead to crashes , but the transportation system can be designed and operated to accommodate human mistakes and injury tolerances and avoid death and serious injuries .
Humans are vulnerable
People have limits for tolerating crash forces before death and serious injury occurs ; therefore , it is critical to design and operate a transportation system that is human-centric and accommodates human vulnerabilities .
Responsibility is shared
All stakeholders ( transportation system users and managers , vehicle manufacturers , etc .) must ensure that crashes do not lead to fatal or serious injuries .
Safety is proactive
Proactive tools should be used to identify and mitigate latent risks in the transportation system , rather than waiting for crashes to occur and reacting afterwards .
Redundancy is crucial
Reducing risks requires that all parts of the transportation system are strengthened , so that if one part fails , the other parts still protect people .
Safe Streets Arlington is a planning document and roadmap for infrastructure and programmatic changes to support roadway safety that build on the existing and ongoing efforts in the City . To achieve our safety goal , this Plan focuses on a high injury network - streets with the highest share of serious injuries and fatalities - and focuses on preventing the most significant risk factors for these crashes across the City .
iv SAFE STREETS ARLINGTON