The city has released the 2019 Vision Zero Boulder: Safe Streets Report, a comprehensive traffic crash analysis to understand where and how crashes are occurring and whom they involve and to identify specific actions to improve safety
Between 2015 and 2017, more than 21,000 people were involved in a crash. Of those, seven were killed, while another 161 were seriously injured. These are more than numbers – they’re people. They are our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children and friends who have been seriously injured or killed just from moving place to place. The impact of their loss on our community is immense and permanent.
The report measures crash data in Boulder, identifies trends, evaluates past safety improvement efforts, and outlines additional strategies that can help the city reduce crashes and achieve the goal of Vision Zero – part of the city’s Transportation Master Plan that aims to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries caused by traffic crashes.
The report also includes a detailed Vision Zero action plan with 50 specific actions that will be conducted over the next three years.
Report highlights
Nationwide, motor vehicle related deaths increased 14% from 2011 to 2017. However, in Boulder, motor vehicle related deaths have remained relatively constant in that same time frame, while the number of total crashes within the city has grown annually.
The report focused on five main areas of overrepresented severe crashes: walking, bicycling, driving impaired, speeding and turning left. Other areas of concern include distracted travelers, people ages 15-29 or over 65, and people riding motorcycles. These areas are our focus to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes.
Vision Zero
Vision Zero is Boulder’s goal to eliminate all severe traffic crashes involving people using all modes of travel. The guiding principles of Vision Zero are centered around the use of a people-focused, data-driven, action-oriented and interdisciplinary approach, and proactively employing effective crash countermeasures, with a focus on continuous improvement.
Further, Vision Zero commits to the practice of a safe systems approach that recognizes that people make mistakes and the human body is fragile – achieving Vision Zero is a shared responsibility across all stakeholders and individuals and all parts of the system must be strengthened.
VISION ZERO OBJECTIVES
- Eliminate crashes resulting in serious injuries and fatalities.
- Reduce other types of crashes.
- Improve travel comfort and security.
- Enhance awareness of and community engagement with Vision Zero.
- Improve data and be transparent.
Find out more at Safe Streets Boulder: Vision Zero. See the full report and action plan for more information. The technical appendix contains additional information on definitions and statistics.
Source link