WHAT IS
VISION ZERO
Every year, more than 200 Angelenos lose their lives while
traveling on city streets. The Vision Zero philosophy holds
that these deaths are both unacceptable and preventable.
Vision Zero is a road safety policy that promotes smart
behaviors and roadway design that anticipates mistakes
such that collisions do not result in severe injury or death.
In this regard, it promotes a culture of shared responsibility,
where both designers and policymakers, not just the users,
are held accountable for the deaths on our streets.
The Vision Zero concept originated in Sweden, where it was
adopted as a national strategy in 1997. Since then, despite
increased traffic volumes, the number of transportationrelated deaths has dropped over 30 percent. Several
cities throughout the U.S. have adopted the Vision Zero
goal, including New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland,
Chicago, San Jose, and San Diego. Many include a 10year goal—more ambitious than the one set by Sweden—
reflecting the urgency for taking actions to make our streets
safer.
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