Vision Zero Success
At the behest of the City of Buenos Aires (Argentina), and with funding from the World Bank, we undertook a survey in 2014 of Vision Zero-like initiatives in global cities. Buenos Aires has made great strides in remaking their streets in the last decade, and sought to push further.
Methodology
The survey began with a selection of cities with good (or improving) traffic safety records that could be compared to Buenos Aires. BA is large (about three million inhabitants in the city proper), European in physical structure (similar to Paris and Barcelona), and has a western political and legal system. The cities did not need an explicit “vision zero” policy or program to be considered, only that their overall traffic safety record was good or improving. Comparing fatality records is an inexact science due different reporting methods, data collection, and other variations; at best, these statistics should be considered approximations. These are not the only cities that could or should have been considered; however, they represent a healthy cross-section of safe and similar cities from around the globe. The eleven selected cities are presented below.
Following the selection of cities, their safety initiatives were researched via their websites, published material, and personal knowledge. Researchers searched for programs and policies that could be tied to traffic safety such as physical changes to the streets, policies that could be tied to specific outcomes, both manual and automated enforcement efforts, outreach campaigns, and marketing material. As the initiatives were identified, similar ones were grouped together, even though they may not have been exactly the same. To exemplify, there are a number of nuances to red light camera programs and traffic calming takes various shapes and forms. The list of sources can be found in the appendix.
Sources for 11 cities
http://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/seguretatiprevencio/en/noticia/barcelona-registers-its-lowest-ever-levels-of-trafficaccident-fatalities.
http://archive.etsc.eu/documents/Background_tables.pdf.
http://reporting.tacsafety.com.au/s/search.html?date-after=1-Jan-2013&date-before=31-Dec-2013&meta_J_orsand=&meta_G_orsand=&query=%21padrenull&collection=tac-xml- meta&meta_B_orsand=%22Melbourne%22&clive=tac-fatalities-xml.
http://tripp.iitd.ernet.in/publications/paper/safety/traffic%20safety%20and%20city%20struc%20DM08%5B2%5D.pdf.
http://www.wri.org/sites/default/files/CitiesSaferByDesign_final.pdf.
Newman, P and J Kenworthy (1999), Sustainability and Cities: Overcoming Automobile Dependence, Island Press, Washington DC.
Results
All eleven cities have some sort of traffic calming program. They physically alter streets through speed humps, mini-roundabouts, curb extensions and the like.
Eighty percent of the cities (9 of 11) have:
Bicycle infrastructure such as bike lanes, protected bike lanes, cycletracks, bicycle priority traffic signals
In-vehicle alcohol, collision avoidance & event recorders (black boxes)
In-vehicle speed detection
Outreach through schools, similar to fire prevention and recycling effortsRed light cameras
Slow zones - specific locations where speed limits are reduced such as school zones, adjacent to parks, along arterials with poor safety records, near vulnerable populations such as senior centers, and in residential areas
Speed cameras
Sixty percent of the cities (7 of 11) have:
Fixed or variable message warning signage
Pedestrian priority crossing signals such as pedestrian countdown, leading pedestrian intervals (LPI), or High-intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) signals
Traffic safety marketing campaigns
The initiatives can be grouped by who or what they target. Various programs and policies often focus on the same outcome, but how they approach it is different. By looking at the focus area we can further distill importance.
One-third (4 of 11) deal with motor vehicle speed. This includes traffic calming, speed cameras, in-vehicle speed detection, and slow zones. It is not surprising given that speed is the foremost consideration in traffic safety.
One-third (4 of 11) specifically address vulnerable road users. This includes pedestrian signals, bicycle infrastructure, slow zones, and traffic calming. Many of the benefits expected with Vision Zero extend to vulnerable populations.
One-fourth (3 of 11) involve automatic enforcement. This includes speed and red light cameras, and in- vehicle speed detection. Note that this type of enforcement is normalized and consistent.
One-fifth (2 of 11) focus on driver inattention. This includes warning signs and in-vehicle collision avoidance.
One-fifth (2 of 11) utilize marketing and outreach. This includes traffic safety marketing campaigns and outreach through schools.
Conclusion
This survey has found that cities with good and getting better traffic safety records focus on speeds, vulnerable road users, and driver inattention; normalize enforcement; and outreach via known channels like schools. They do this with physical changes to the roadway such as traffic calming and bicycle facilities. Their initiatives are preventative and prescriptive, targeting specific actions at particular times and locations. There is a recognition that improved traffic safety will be reached through sustained and consistent efforts.
Sources
Barcelona
http://etsc.eu/wp-content/uploads/The-experience-of-Spain-in-reducing-road-deaths-in-urban-areas-%C3%81lvaro-G%C3%B3mez-M%C3%A9ndez-DGT.pdf
http://w110.bcn.cat/Mobilitat/Continguts/Documents/Fitxers/DadesBasiques2010Complert.pdf
http://w110.bcn.cat/portal/site/Mobilitat/menuitem.9a8066d1d6190a2591f791f7a2ef8a0c/?vgnextoid=9304289c1fca3310VgnVCM10000074fea8c0RCRD&vgnextchannel=9304 289c1fca3310VgnVCM10000074fea8c0RCRD&lang=es_ES
http://w110.bcn.cat/portal/site/Mobilitat/menuitem.cbe15a34b5efad778a738a73a2ef8a0c/?vgnextoid=712b80b2c3cd7310VgnVCM10000072fea8c0RCRD&vgnextchannel=3147 0641b867b210VgnVCM10000074fea8c0RCRD&vgnextfmt=formatDetall&lang=es_ES
http://w110.bcn.cat/portal/site/MoureSEnBicicleta/?vgnextchannel=0000000723866377VgnV6CONT00000000000RCRD&lang=ca_ES
http://www.autopista.es/noticias-motor/articulo/mot6421.htm
http://www.bcn.cat/guardiaurbana/en/campanyes_gent.html
http://www.bcn.cat/guardiaurbana/es/quefem_serveis.html
http://www.bcn.cat/hisenda/es/principals_multes_nomenclator_RGC.html
http://www.consolproject.eu/attachments/article/16/CONSOL%20Report_WP5.1_final.pdf
http://www.trafi.fi/filebank/a/1335444574/1729c59ef5035edfaa4ecdddbbaa06fe/9550-Trafin_julkaisuja_5-2012_- __Adoption_of_the_alcohol_interlock_and_its_effects_in_professional_transport.pdf
https://www.flickr.com/photos/justsmartdesign/6046890403/in/pool-trafficcalming
Berlin
http://dasfahrradblog.blogspot.com/2013_06_01_archive.html
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/pdf/behavior/study_alcohol_interlock.pdf
http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/3708kunst.pdf
http://www.consolproject.eu/attachments/article/16/CONSOL%20Report_WP5.1_final.pdf
http://www.pri.org/stories/2012-04-23/why-germans-dont-bicycle-helmets
http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/verkehr/lenkung/beeinflussung/en/daten.shtml
http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/verkehr/lenkung/vlb/en/dauer1.shtml
http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/verkehr/politik/tempo/index_en.shtml
http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/verkehr/politik_planung/sicherheit/index_en.shtml
http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/verkehr/politik_planung/sicherheit/download/verkehrssicherheitsbericht2013.pdf
http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/verkehr/politik_planung/zahlen_fakten/download/Mobility_en_komplett.pdf
http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/06/27/this-is-what-bike-safety-looks-like/
www.gidas.org
Chicago
http://chicagocompletestreets.org/chicagopedsafety/
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/pdf/behavior/study_alcohol_interlock.pdf
http://www.activetrans.org/blog/rburke/anti-dooring-stickers-increased-traffic-fines-highlight-new-bike-safety-initiatives-chic
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/ped/svcs/crosswalk_enforcementinitiatives.html
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/traffic_signals_andstreetlights.html
http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/Admin/ChicagoForwardCDOTActionAgenda.pdf
http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/street/general/ToolsforSaferStreetsGuide.pdf
http://www.dmv.com/il/illinois/senior-drivers
https://webapps1.cityofchicago.org/traffic/redlightList.jsp
http://chicagocompletestreets.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Chicago-Bike-Map-2014.pdf
Dublin
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/pdf/behavior/study_alcohol_interlock.pdf
http://www.consolproject.eu/attachments/article/16/CONSOL%20Report_WP5.1_final.pdf
http://www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-services-roads-and-traffic-general-traffic-measures/apply-traffic-calming-measures
http://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/content//RoadsandTraffic/RoadSafety/Documents/Road%20Safety%20Plan%20English%20Web%20Copy%20V5%200210.pdf
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/new-cameras-to-catch-motorists-breaking-red-lights-at-luas-lines-1.1769228
http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/Drink-Driving/Drink-Driving-Limits-and-Recommendations-/
http://irishcycle.com/2014/07/03/dublin-city-installs-bicycle-traffic-lights-without-headstart-safety-function/
Lisbon
http://archive.etsc.eu/documents/Drink_Driving_Monitor_May_2013.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/roadsafety_library/rapport_swov_alcolock.pdf
http://issuu.com/camara_municipal_lisboa/docs/estudo_seguran__a_rodoviaria_escola
http://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=565360
http://www.cm-lisboa.pt/viver/mobilidade/modos-suaves/mobilidade-ciclavel
http://www.cm-lisboa.pt/viver/mobilidade/seguranca-rodoviaria/controlo-inteligente-de-trafego
http://www.consolproject.eu/attachments/article/16/CONSOL%20Report_WP5.1_final.pdf
London
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/pdf/behavior/study_alcohol_interlock.pdf
http://www.consolproject.eu/attachments/article/16/CONSOL%20Report_WP5.1_final.pdf
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/londonlorrycontrol/consultation.htm
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/06/london-protected-cycle-lanes-scheme
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/road-safety/childrens-safety
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/road-safety/safety-enforcement-cameras
Madrid
http://motor.es.msn.com/radares/madrid.aspx
http://www.consolproject.eu/attachments/article/16/CONSOL%20Report_WP5.1_final.pdf
http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/horta-guinardo/golpe-pedal-3507861
http://www.icap.org/table/BACLimitsWorldwide
http://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/Ayuntamiento/Emergencias-y-Seguridad/Policia-Municipal-de- Madrid?vgnextfmt=default&vgnextoid=1b5abbc29b9ac310VgnVCM2000000c205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=d11c9ad016e07010VgnVCM100000dc0ca8c0RCRD&idCapitulo=61916 04
http://www.madrid.es/UnidadesDescentralizadas/UDCMovilidadTransportes/Publicaciones/TemaMovilidad/PlanSeguridadVial/PlanSegVial2012-2020.pdf
http://www.madridiario.es/transporte/madrid/multas/la-gaceta-del-motor/motor/411421
http://www.madridiario.es/transporte/madrid/multas/la-gaceta-del-motor/motor/411421
http://www.trafi.fi/filebank/a/1335444574/1729c59ef5035edfaa4ecdddbbaa06fe/9550-Trafin_julkaisuja_5-2012_- __Adoption_of_the_alcohol_interlock_and_its_effects_in_professional_transport.pdf
Melbourne
http://international.fhwa.dot.gov/halving_fatalities/t1_p09.cfm
http://www.camerassavelives.vic.gov.au/home/locations/
http://www.roadsafety.vic.gov.au/images/strategy/road_safety_action_plan.pdf
http://www.roadsafetyeducation.vic.gov.au/about/victoria-s-road-safety-education-strategy.html
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/safety-statistics/crash-statistics
New York City
http://council.nyc.gov/html/pr/092314stated.shtml
http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=1687945&GUID=9621FABE-B038-4D87-BD30-54547AD24E3F&Options=&Search=
http://www.dmv.com/ny/new-york/senior-drivers
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc_ped_safety_study_action_plan.pdf
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/infrastructure/leading-ped-intervals.shtml
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/slowzones.shtml
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pr2012/pr12_49.shtml
http://www.nyc.gov/html/visionzero/pdf/nyc-vision-zero-action-plan.pdf
Paris
"http://www.paris.fr/pratique/deplacements-voirie/dossier/prevention-et-securite-routiere/cyclistes-la-conduite-s-apprend/rub_7096_dossier_55410_port_16333_sheet_12033
http://blog.velib.paris.fr/en/ptit-velib/
http://eduscol.education.fr/cid45635/l-education-a-la-securite-routiere-a-l-ecole.html?rub=203
http://eduscol.education.fr/cid45642/l-education-a-la-securite-routiere-au-college.html?rub=203
http://pdu.stif.info/IMG/pdf/pduif_2014.pdf
http://www.consolproject.eu/attachments/article/16/CONSOL%20Report_WP5.1_final.pdf
http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCode.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006074228&dateTexte=20140924
http://www.paris.fr/pratique/deplacements-voirie/dossier/le-double-sens-cyclable/les-doubles-sens-quels-amenagements/rub_7096_dossier_79395_port_16333_sheet_15553
http://www.paris.fr/pratique/deplacements-voirie/dossier/le-double-sens-cyclable/le-bilan-des-double-sens/rub_7096_dossier_79395_port_16333_sheet_20086
http://www.paris.fr/pratique/deplacements-voirie/dossier/prevention-et-securite-routiere/le-danger-de-l-angle-mort/rub_7096_dossier_55410_port_16333_sheet_12034
http://www.paris.fr/pratique/deplacements-voirie/prevention-et-securite-routiere/prevention-et-securite-routiere/conseils-aux-plus- vulnerables/rub_8697_dossier_55410_port_20649_sheet_11365
http://www.trafi.fi/filebank/a/1335444574/1729c59ef5035edfaa4ecdddbbaa06fe/9550-Trafin_julkaisuja_5-2012_- __Adoption_of_the_alcohol_interlock_and_its_effects_in_professional_transport.pdf
Stockholm
http://publikationswebbutik.vv.se/upload/7339/2014_068_analys_av_trafiksakerhetsutvecklingen_inom_vagtrafik_2013_malstyrning_av_trafiksakerhetsarbetet_mot_etappmalen_ 2020.pdf
http://www.consolproject.eu/attachments/article/16/CONSOL%20Report_WP5.1_final.pdf
http://www.trafi.fi/filebank/a/1335444574/1729c59ef5035edfaa4ecdddbbaa06fe/9550-Trafin_julkaisuja_5-2012_- __Adoption_of_the_alcohol_interlock_and_its_effects_in_professional_transport.pdf
http://www.trafikverket.se/Foretag/Trafikera-och-transportera/Trafikera-vag/Sakerhet-pa-vag/Tillsammans-for-Nollvisionen/Prioriterade-insatsomraden1/5-Hjalmanvandning- --cyklister-och-mopedister-/http://www.stockholm.se/oversiktsplan
http://www.trafikverket.se/PageFiles/138223/130826%20Rapport%20CNO%20web%20kap%204-7.pdf
thanks to Will Sherman, who did most of the research.