Vision Zero

Photo Courtesy of Nikhil Badlani Foundation. Used with permission.

Each year, thousands of people are killed in roadway crashes and millions more are injured. It doesn’t have to be this way. Vision Zero is an approach to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries by increasing safe, active, and equitable mobility for all. Vision Zero is more than a dream. It is an attainable objective that prioritizes proven safety strategies, encourages a shared goal of zero deaths, focuses on data driven decision making, and implements a safe system approach. ZERO. That is the only acceptable number of traffic deaths and serious injuries from roadway crashes.

You can help us reach ZERO deaths by following these easy steps:

1. Avoid Distractions.
Driver inattention is the leading cause of fatal traffic crashes in New Jersey. In 2023, driver inattention accounted for nearly 26% of roadway deaths.

2. Obey Speed Limits.
Speeding is the second highest cause of motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey, after driver inattention and is a factor in 29% of all fatalities. Speeding reduces reaction time and increases the stopping distance needed to avoid a collision.

3. Pass Cyclists with Care.
The New Jersey Safe Passing Law requires drivers to slow down, give cyclists 4 feet of space, and move over when possible.

4. Stop for Pedestrians.
The New Jersey Stop and Stay Stopped Law requires motorists to stop and stay stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks and yield to pedestrians when crossing at unmarked intersections.

The Safe System Approach to Roadway Safety

How do we achieve a goal of zero traffic fatalities on our roadways? Reaching Vision Zero requires the implementation of a Safe System approach. There are six principles that form the basis of the Safe System approach: 1. deaths and serious injuries are unacceptable, 2. humans make mistakes, 3. humans are vulnerable, 4. responsibility is shared, 5. safety is proactive, 6. and redundancy is crucial. This video explains how the Safe System approach is used to eliminate traffic fatalities.

Municipal Resources

In 2022, Middlesex County adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan, the first countywide action plan in New Jersey. The Vision Zero action plan identifies crash locations, maps high-injury corridors, documents existing programs, and proposes a series of actions designed to promote crash prevention through engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, continual evaluation, and partnerships. Shortly thereafter, KMM’s Board of Trustees passed a resolution to support Vision Zero initiatives at the local and county level.

Join us in our efforts to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2040. We have included a draft resolution municipalities and organizations can use to show their commitment to making our roads safer for everyone who lives, works, and does business in Middlesex County. Together, we can reach ZERO deaths.

Download DRAFT Municipal Resolution
Federal Highway Vision Zero Toolkit