Vision Zero
We can work together to prevent severe injuries and deaths from traffic crashes.
To zero in ten years
I want to
Explore this section
My best idea for making our streets safer is: More street lights and police watch.
My best idea for making our streets safer is: Motorist watch out for bicyclist, and bicyclist use lights and bike on correct side of road.
Our goal is zero traffic deaths in ten years
Vision Zero is an international movement for safe streets. The City of Minneapolis has joined the national Vision Zero movement to end deaths and severe injuries on our streets. Each year, about 166 people die or suffer from severe injuries in traffic crashes on Minneapolis streets (Average from 2016 to 2019). That is unacceptable and preventable.
Minneapolis City Council adopted a Vision Zero Resolution on September 20, 2017. It commits to the goal of zero traffic deaths and severe injuries on City streets by 2027.
How we'll reach our ambitious goal
We're working with people from across our community (See Vision Zero Partners) to put an Action Plan in place. The Action Plan outlines ways to make our transportation network safe for everyone.
Protecting human life is our top priority. Safety informs all decisions about the way our streets look, feel, and operate.
Our commitment
Achieving the goal of safe streets for everyone will require a lot of effort and resources.
We commit to do the following:
- Focus on equity and engagement in our Vision Zero work
- Use data and best practices
- Report regularly on our progress toward Vision Zero
Minneapolis is one of more than 35 Vision Zero cities in the United States. You can learn about Vision Zero efforts around the country from the Vision Zero Network
Why Vision Zero
Traveling on our streets is safer compared to other large cities around the country. Still, vehicle and pedestrian crashes have increased in the last several years. 2016 and 2017 saw the highest number of people killed or injured on our streets since 2007. This has lessened past progress in making Minneapolis streets safer.
To address these challenges, the City joined the Vision Zero movement for safe streets. Minneapolis is one of more than 35 Vision Zero cities in the United States. Vision Zero allows us to take a new systemic approach.
To improve traffic safety, Vision Zero coordinates efforts across the following
- Engineering
- Public safety
- Health
- Community outreach
How Vision Zero is different
People often see traffic deaths and severe injuries as unpreventable accidents or the result of individual mistakes.
Vision Zero says that traffic deaths and severe injuries are unacceptable and preventable. Humans will make mistakes, but we need to design safe systems so a person's mistake does not lead to death or severe injuries.
What Vision Zero means for Minneapolis
Everyone deserves to safely move around our city.
This includes people from
- All neighborhoods
- Means of transportation
- Ages
- Backgrounds
The Vision Zero Action Plan is a bold step forward towards a safer future.
A future where everyone can move
- Safely
- Efficiently
- Equitably through our streets and neighborhoods
To reach our goals, we'll need to change the status quo. This means addressing structural inequities and protecting human life in our transportation system.
| Lives lost in 2019 | |
|---|---|
|
Alexander Anthony Anthony Brian Charles Colleen Eileen John
|
José Patrick Sergio Theodore Thomas
|
We also remember the lives lost in traffic crashes since 2018.
These four principles guide the Vision Zero Action Plan. Read the Guiding principles for details and original language as used in the plan.
Safety and human life first
The loss of human life in traffic deaths on our streets is unacceptable. We're committed to ending death and life-altering injuries on our streets. One death on our streets is one too many. We'll work with urgency to put Vision Zero into action.
Equity
We acknowledge and work to end disparities in traffic crashes
- Racial
- Economic
- Other disparities
We're working to deliver fair and just opportunities and outcomes for all people.
Data-driven
We developed Vision Zero strategies and actions from
- Relevant data
- Recognized best practices
- Community experiences and input
We're working to improve the data we have and recognize its gaps.
Accountability
We commit to the following
- Set clear objectives and report on them regularly.
- Be transparent.
- Include meaningful and diverse community engagement that helps guide actions.
- Collaborate with community and agency partners to embrace, develop, and put Vision Zero into action.
- Adapt our approach as needed in the future.
