Originally released 10/21/2016 by the City of San Luis Obispo

The Vision Zero philosophy holds that the loss of life is not an acceptable price to pay for mobility.

Deaths and Serious Injuries reduced by 58 percent

Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for people aged 13 through 25 in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and account for over 30,000 deaths a year. The City of San Luis Obispo’s traffic safety program, which involves partnerships between the City’s Public Works and Police Departments, has already been successful in reducing traffic collisions by 58 percent in the past 15 years.

Vision Zero

The City has adopted a new policy supporting the goal of Vision Zero—aimed at eliminating all traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. After Sweden adopted its Vision Zero policy in 1997, that country, and other European nations, reduced their traffic fatalities by 50 percent or more. In recent years, U.S. cities such as San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara have looked to mirror this success by adopting their own Vision Zero policies and action plans. Most recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced formation of a “Road to Zero” coalition with the goal of ending traffic-related fatalities nationwide in the next 30 years.

The City of San Luis Obispo’s traffic safety program success in reducing traffic collisions is attributable to following the tenets of Vision Zero. The intent of adopting the goal of Vision Zero as City policy is to formally articulate a measurable objective, and to memorialize and brand the City’s already well demonstrated philosophy and methods to achieve this goal.

Traffic Safety Report

For more information on the program you may be interested in viewing the Traffic Safety Report Press Release or the complete 2015 Traffic Safety Report, as presented to City Council.