Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all. It originated in Sweden in the 1990s and has since been adopted by many cities and countries worldwide. The fundamental principle of Vision Zero is that loss of life and serious injuries are not acceptable and are preventable.
This approach to road safety represents a paradigm shift from traditional approaches, which often have focused primarily on reducing the number of crashes. Vision Zero, on the other hand, acknowledges that while it's impossible to prevent all accidents, systems and infrastructure can be designed in a way that such accidents do not result in serious injuries or fatalities.
Key elements of Vision Zero include reducing vehicular speeds, designing safer streets, implementing meaningful behaviour change campaigns, and using data to identify and address high-risk locations. Collaboration across multiple sectors and disciplines is also a crucial component, involving traffic engineers, urban planners, policymakers, public health professionals, and law enforcement.