WHY VISION ZERO?
The zero deaths vision acknowledges that even one death on our transportation system is unacceptable and focuses on safe mobility for all road users. This idea was first adopted in Sweden in 1997 as “Vision Zero” and since then has spread around the world.
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. In a Safe System, those mistakes should never lead to death. Applying the Safe System approach involves anticipating human mistakes by designing and managing road infrastructure to keep the risk of a mistake low; and when a mistake leads to a crash, the impact on the human body doesn’t result in a fatality or serious injury. Road design and management should encourage safe speeds and manipulate appropriate crash angles to reduce injury severity.
- The Deltona-Daytona-Ormond Bch metro area continues to rank as one of the deadliest areas, and the average yearly deaths continue to rise. (Dangerous by Design, 2024)
- Between 2019-2023 there were 2,500 crashes resulting in fatal and serious injuries on Volusia-Flagler roadways. (Signal 4 Analytics)
- Vision Zero seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries on the transportation system by providing a proactive and preventive approach.
- Vision Zero believes loss of life is not an acceptable price to pay for mobility.
- The goal of Vision Zero is to integrate safety principles during the planning and implementation of transportation programs.
THE SAFE SYSTEM APPROACH
Eliminating deaths on our transportation system requires an ambitious, proactive method called the safe system approach, which includes working on safer roads, safer vehicles, safer speeds, addressing needs of all travelers, and strengthening post-crash care. All these elements work together to build layers of protection into the transportation system.
There are six principles that form the basis of the Safe System approach:
- deaths and serious injuries are unacceptable
- humans make mistakes
- humans are vulnerable
- responsibility is shared
- safety is proactive
- redundancy is crucial
Making a commitment to zero traffic deaths means addressing all aspects of safety through the following five Safe System elements that, together, create a holistic approach with layers of protection for road users:
- safe road users
- safe vehicles
- safe speeds
- safe roads
- post-crash care
VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN
The Volusia Flagler Vision Zero Action Plan will create a comprehensive Vision Zero Safety Action Plan for Volusia and Flagler Counties, in coordination with each municipality. A Vision Zero Action Plan includes:
- High Injury Network: Analyzing data to identify places on the transportation system with the highest risk for fatal and serious injury crashes so that we can focus on our most important problem areas.
- Equity Component: Identifying and prioritizing efforts in disadvantaged communities that are disproportionately affected by traffic crashes.
- List of Priority Streets and Intersections: Producing a list of feasible projects that have the most safety impact for the region.
- Educational and Enforcement Programs: Identifying key behavioral changes needed to reduce crashes and methods for encouraging those changes.
- Sustained Effort: Establishing a defined process and identifying an organization responsible for carrying out, updating, and monitoring progress.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Listed below are three community workshops that the Volusia-Flagler TPO invites you to attend regarding the draft Vision Zero Action Plan; we encourage you to come out and share your thoughts at one of these meetings (all 3 will cover the same content):
Workshop #1
West Volusia Community Workshop #1
Thursday, March 20, 2025
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Wayne G. Sanborn Activity Center
815 S Alabama Ave, Deland
Workshop #2
East Volusia Community Workshop #2
Thursday, April 3, 2025
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Airline Room @ Daytona Beach International Airport
700 Catalina Dr, Daytona Beach
*Parking will be validated
Workshop #3
Flagler County Community Workshop #3
Thursday, April 17, 2025
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Palm Coast Community Center – Sunshine Room #112
305 Palm Coast Parkway NE, Palm Coast
VZAP Working Group Meetings:
January 29, 2025
March 26, 2025
May 28, 2025
VZAP Stakeholder Meetings:
Virtual/In-person Stakeholder Meeting
2025 FDOT District 5 Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) Summit (presentation will be given during this Summit)
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
8:30 am – 11:30 am
FDOT Regional Transportation Management Center
4975 Wilson Rd, Sanford
Virtual meeting information will be posted soon.
Presentations to TPO Board & Advisory Committees:
BPAC: April 9, 2025
CAC/TCC: April 15, 2025
TPO Board: April 23, 2025
VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN DOCUMENTS & INFORMATION
Vision Zero Task Force-Working Group
SS4A CSAP Kick Off Press Release – Volusia-Flagler TPO
Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
The SS4A program supports Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s National Roadway Safety Strategy, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation’s roadways, FDOT’s goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on Florida’s roadways, and the Volusia-Flagler TPO’s goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on Volusia and Flagler roadways.