What is Vision Zero?
There were an estimated 9,675 fatal or severe-injury crashes in the Denver region from 2018 to 2022. The human toll of these crashes is significant: At least 1,301 people were killed and more than 8,300 people were seriously injured during this period. Traffic fatalities increased more than 25% in the Denver region from 236 people killed to 300 between 2018 and 2022.
Vision Zero is a transportation safety philosophy based on the principle that loss of life is an unacceptable price to pay for mobility. It recognizes that humans make mistakes and therefore our transportation system should be designed to minimize the consequences of human error.
Reaching zero deaths requires the implementation of a Safe System approach, which was founded on the principles that humans make mistakes and that human bodies have limited ability to tolerate crash impacts. The Safe System approach focuses on both human mistakes and human vulnerability to design a transportation system with multiple redundancies to protect everyone.
The Safe System approach six principles are:
- Deaths and serious injuries are unacceptable.
- Humans make mistakes.
- Humans are vulnerable.
- Responsibility is shared.
- Safety is proactive.
- Redundancy is crucial.
Taking Action on Regional Vision Zero
In June 2020, DRCOG's Board of Directors adopted a Regional Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries on the region's roadways to make safety a priority for all users of the transportation system. While we continue to make the regions' roads safer through engineering, education and legislation, further action is needed, such as working towards an inclusive approach to roadway safety. In 2023, staff worked extensively and closely with stakeholders and partner agencies regionwide to strategically update Taking Action on Regional Vision Zero and reestablish how to progress in achieving a shared goal of zero traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
The original and revised plans were guided by robust collaboration with local, regional and state stakeholders through the Regional Vision Zero Working Group and public engagement, including a crowd-sourced map of safety issues around the region. The plan includes extensive data analyses of fatal and serious-injury crash statistics from a five-year period in the region. The plan sets out action initiatives, an implementation timeline and measures to help track progress toward regional safety improvements.
Plan implementation identifies the following:
- Improve collaboration between allied agencies.
- Increase awareness and adoption of Vision Zero.
- Design and retrofit roadways to prioritize people’s safety.
- Improve data collection and reporting.
- Increase funding and resources.
- Increase support for legislation, policies and practices that focus on safety at all levels.
The six principles driving Taking Action on Regional Vision Zero forms a comprehensive strategy to ensure safer roadways across the region. The principles represent a proactive approach to safety through practical actions and community collaboration. With input and support from regional partners and stakeholders and residents, everyone has the capacity to affect significant change in the Denver region.
DRCOG Crash Data Dashboard
DRCOG Crash Data Dashboard visualizes roadway crashes and related statistics in the Denver region from 2018 – 2022. The dashboard is structured around themed tabs with maps and charts analyzing the crash data and providing reference data layers for context. The data may be used to identify trends and discern details to inform Vision Zero strategies. Each crash point in the dashboard reflects human lives affected by a crash, a reminder that behind the numbers are real people and communities.
Regional Vision Zero story map
DRCOG staff developed a story map visualizing fatal and serious-injury crash trends in the Denver region. The map provides details on crash location and top contributing factors. The map helps decision-makers explore data patterns to help identify how and where crashes occur to determine effective countermeasures.
Regional Vision Zero Working Group
DRCOG staff coordinate with local government staff, state and federal partners, advocacy organizations and other safety stakeholders in the region through the Regional Vision Zero Working Group. This group meets virtually every other month to collaborate on methods to implement strategies and actions identified in Taking Action on Regional Vision Zero. To join the group, contact Cam Kennedy, division assistant, 303-480-6700.