Vision Zero

​Vision Zero

The City of Charlotte has always placed strong emphasis on a safe transportation system for all users. This drives our every decision. We believe it’s our collective responsibility to create safe travel for all.

Across the globe, Vision Zero is saving and protecting lives. Vision Zero started in Sweden in 1997. It’s a strategy to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and severe injuries, while increasing safety, health and mobility for all. Vision Zero focuses on how people naturally behave. People make mistakes but mistakes should not be fatal.

​Over the past ten years our city has seen explosive population growth, adding close to 200,000 more drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to our streets, paths and intersections. Charlotte has responded by creating a variety of safe ways for people to move around the city and connect with each other – we’ve upgraded intersections, added more bike lanes and built additional sidewalks – as we continue to work towards the best possible transportation and pedestrian safety systems for our growing city.

In 2017, drivers in Charlotte logged more than 23 million miles on our streets, up nearly a million miles from the year before. While the number of crashes in our city actually decreased by 4% compared to 2016, the number of fatalities from those crashes increased by 35% in 2017.

Crashes and fatalities not only take a toll on human life, but also on the city’s capital – affecting loved ones, health care facilities, businesses and many other areas of our community.

That’s why Charlotte is renewing its commitment to safer streets in 2018 with the creation of Vision Zero, an action plan designed to reduce crashes and eliminate traffic-related deaths and severe injuries by 2030. Why? Because even one traffic-related death is too many.

​As a community, it's our responsibility to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries for all who share Charlotte streets by 2030.

The following principles recognize this belief and will guide the actions and performance measures of Charlotte’s Vision Zero Action Plan.

  1. Traffic deaths and severe injuries are preventable and unacceptable.
  2. Protecting human lives takes priority over all other objectives of the road system.
  3. The transportation system should be designed so mistakes are not fatal.
  4. Solutions must be collaborative, equitable and data-driven.
  5. Safety on our streets is everyone’s responsibility.
  6. Our community is accountable for implementing the Vision Zero Action Plan, measuring performance and responding accordingly.

​For additional information, visit the Vision Zero Task Force page to see what agencies have joined Charlotte's Vision Zero initiative: Vision Zero Task Force

Walk Alert, Walk Alive, Walk Like a Wildcat.

Garinger High School and the Charlotte Department of Transportation would like to remind students to always be safe when crossing the street.

Here are some simple tips:

- Obey all traffic laws and signals.- Always use the crosswalk. It's the safest place to cross.

"Walk Signs are on for all crossings."

- Always look both ways before crossing. Don't rely solely on pedestrian signals. Remember safety is a shared responsibility for all road users including pedestrians.

- Don't assume that cars will stop. Some drivers are not paying enough attention to drive safely.

- Be visible, staying clear of obstacles so drivers can see you.

- Wearing brightly colored clothing also helps.

- Always be alert when crossing.

- Avoid distractions that can divert your attention like cell phones or headphones.

​How many people were killed on North Carolina roads last year?

I would probably say maybe a thousand.

Hundreds, hundreds of people probably died here.

I'd say eighteen hundred. Thousands? Thousands of people.

1,387 people were killed on North Carolina roads last year.

What are the leading causes of motor vehicle crashes?

I would say alcohol?

Texting.

Phones, Technology, GPS, People just not paying attention.

I believe a lot of times no seat belts, alcohol.

Texting and driving, drunk driving.

Top causes of North Carolina roadway fatalities:

- Not wearing a seat belt (42%)
- Speeding (30%)
- Drinking and Driving (30%)

Source: NCDOT Crash Facts 2015

Will we ever see a day with zero roadway deaths?

No. Yeah, no.

No. No.

I don't think so.

Nah, I don't think so.

What is an acceptable goal?

50%?

Every year should reduce by 10-15%.

It's hard to put a number on it because you want it to say zero.

Under one hundred would be amazing.

What is an acceptable goal for your family?

Oh Zero.

Absolutely Zero.

Zero fatalities in the family.

It's zero yeah.

Zero.

Zero for my family.

Shouldn't zero be the goal for everyone?

Absolutely, yeah.

I mean ideally, yes. Yes.

Yes.

Oh, absolutely zero.

No loss of life on our roads is acceptable.

NC Vision Zero

Join us in making North Carolina streets safe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Contacts

Project Manager:

Angela Berry
704-432-5259

Media requests:

Scierra Bratton

Watch For Me NC

Watch For Me NC 

Get Involved

We want to hear from you! Check out the interactive map, put a pin on it and share your experience on Charlotte's streets whether driving, walking or cycling.

Interactive Map

Vision Zero Interactive Map 

Enforcement Focus Areas Map

Enforcement Focus Areas Map 

The Enforcement Focus Area Map focuses on areas for targeted enforcement. CMPD uses serious injury and fatal crash data to conduct enforcement targeting speeding, seatbelt use, driving while impaired and distracted driving.

High Injury Network

View larger map

​The City of Charlotte is establishing a Task Force to develop a plan a Vision Zero Action Plan. Below are the organizations represented on the task force. Stay tuned for more information as the plan develops.

            Vision Zero Task Force
Anuvia
Atrium Health Care Injury Prevention Center
​Charlotte AARP
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
Charlotte Communications & Marketing
Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT)
​Charlotte District Attorney's Office
Charlotte Fire Department
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS)
CMS - Driver Education
Charlotte Planning, Design & Development
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD)
CMPD - Victim Services
Charlotte Office of Data Analytics  
​Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO)
​Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) / NC Vision Zero
Mecklenburg County Public Health
Mecklenburg County Sherriff's Office
Mecklenburg Transportation Alliance
​MeckRolls
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)
Sustain Charlotte