Missouri Vision Zero Information Center
Vision Zero is an international, proven-effective approach to completely eliminate traffic fatalities.
Yes--not just reduce, not just cut by 10%. Vision Zero is a strategy to actually eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.
Vision Zero is a systems-focused, public health-oriented, data-driven approach. Vision Zero benefits ALL road users, including those who drive, walk, bicycle, transport goods, and use public transportation.
Vision Zero takes the approach that traffic fatalities and serious injuries are preventable, and thus ethically unacceptable.
The United State experiences tens of thousands of traffic fatalities annually, and millions of traffic injuries. These fatalities and injuries damage lives, families, our loved ones and are friends. This toll is simply unacceptable--if there is an alternative.
And there is: Experience in cities and countries across the world has shown that the Vision Zero approach can dramatically reduce traffic fatalities and injuries--to just a fraction of those we currently experience in the U.S. and in Missouri.
What is Vision Zero?
What are the main features of a Vision Zero approach and how does it differ from the traditional traffic safety approach?
- Vision Zero reframes traffic deaths as preventable
- Vision Zero focuses on system failure and changing the system for the better - the same tried-and-true approach taken by business and industry (ie, airline industry) to dramatically reduce fatality and injury
- Vision Zero works to reduce the impact of collisions
- Vision Zero adopts a Safe System approach
- Vision Zero focuses on data-driven decision-making
- Vision Zero is inclusive and community-based
Read more about each of these focus areas here.
Examples of Vision Zero approaches (which vary by local context)
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Slowing traffic speeds in all populated areas
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Redesigning roadways to promote slower speeds and other safer behavior
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Analyzing traffic injury and fatality data to target locations and specific approaches and to guide/change direction of interventions as work continues over time
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Messaging to drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users to complement changes to the built environment
Traditional vs Safe Systems Approach to Safety
This summary by the Towards Zero Foundation is a good succinct comparison of the traditional vs Safe System approach to safety:
Missouri is just getting started with Vision Zero
Vision Zero is making major improvements to traffic safety and dramatically cutting the number of traffic injuries and fatalities worldwide and in some U.S. cities. But, as of 2015, no Missouri city has yet officially adopted a Vision Zero approach.
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2015 - 0 Vision Zero policies
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2016 - 1 Vision Zero policy passed! Columbia, MO, 19 December 2016
Sample Policies and Documents
Columbia, MO Mayor's Commission Report Recommending Adoption of Vision Zero
Columbia, MO Vision Zero City Council Resolution (2016)
Columbia Vision Zero Action Plan (2017)
Kansas City MO Vision Zero Resolution (draft, 2020)
The Vision Zero Network Resources Page has VZ Case Studies and sample resolutions and directives from several cities
View a map showing all Missouri Vision Zero Campaigns
The goal for Missouri:
Missouri Cities
We would like to see all Missouri communities take a Vision Zero approach to dramatically reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. We would like to see Missouri politicians and leaders support the Vision Zero approach and help implement it. We would like to see Missouri transportation agencies such as MoDOT adopt and implement a Vision Zero approach.
It makes sense to focus on Vision Zero in Missouri's largest cities first--that is where highest concentration of traffic injuries and fatalities lie, and where Vision Zero will be easiest to implement. However, smaller communities in rural and outstate Missouri also have a significant traffic injury and fatality problem--including some of the highest traffic fatality rates in the state. Vision Zero is much needed in these areas, too, and we would like to see a vanguard of forward thinking smaller communities adopt a Vision Zero approach as well.
Regionally (MPOs and RPCs)
We would like to see Missouri Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) adopt Vision Zero-based plans for reducing traffic fatalities and injuries, and focus traffic safety funding on Vision Zero-focused approaches.
State (MoDOT, MHSS, and other state agencies)
We would like to see major funding at the local, state and national levels that is currently dedicated to highway and roadway safety projects, change its focus to the proven-effective and data-driven Vision Zero approach. This includes all funding overseen by MoDOT's Highway Safety office, including current Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and 402 (safety education and enforcement) funding.
We would like to see the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services take a leading role in moving forward with a Vision Zero-based approach across the state, and partner with MoDOT as we work to eliminate traffic fatalities in Missouri and improve health and equity by creating more and safety access to the transportation system.
The National Vision Zero Network
For more information visit www.VisionZeroNetwork.org.
What you can do:
- Provide your local city council or regional planning organization with information about adopted a Vision Zero campaign and policy (see right sidebar); help promote Vision Zero in your own community and neighborhood
- Join your local and/or state bicycle/pedestrian/trails advocacy organization
- Vision Zero is a multi-disciplinary approach. Encourage your local health organizations, PTA, neighborhood association, children's organization, disabilities organization, equity organization, law enforcement, city planners, and other similar groups to learn about Vision Zero and actively advocate for it
- Learn more about the national Vision Zero Network and join the network.
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