By committing to Vision Zero, cities are proclaiming that no loss of life is inevitable or acceptable on city streets. One death is too many.
To get to zero requires cities to use data to understand why crashes occur, and how to prevent them. But not all data is equal. Seemingly mundane decisions about crash data forms dictate what’s collected in the raw data; analytical decisions assign weight to one type of crash over another; and political decisions determine the application of the data to policy. While seemingly small, these decisions influence how we analyze crashes, and allocate resources to prevent them.
Cities’ approach to data informs the decisions about which dangerous behaviors a police department will enforce, which streets a transportation department will redesign, and which citywide strategies a Mayor’s office will prioritize. In this session, learn how three cities—Los Angeles. Seattle, and New York—are studying crashes and making data-driven decisions to achieve Vision Zero. From limiting left turns to lowering the citywide speed limit, how are these cities using data to focus their efforts?