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Almost 40,000 people lose their lives each year on our roads, and millions more are injured. President Biden knows all too well the pain and devastation that comes when someone is killed in a crash. These are not just numbers — each life is someone’s family, friend and neighbor.
Please join lead organizations Families for Safe Streets, Toward Zero Deaths, Road to Zero Coalition and Vision Zero Network to urge President Biden and his leadership team to commit to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by 2050. As a nation, it is time to take decisive and collective action to address roadway safety and preventable crashes to save hundreds of thousands of lives and end the millions of life-altering injuries seen each year.
We celebrated UN Global Road Safety Week by exploring speed management. We have two new interviews with practitioners on why speed management is critical to reaching our goal of Zero Traffic Deaths. Read the interviews with Paula Flores and Norman Garrick.
There is a burgeoning movement calling for a paradigm shift, starting with a commitment from the Biden administration, to Zero Traffic Deaths. Hear from policymakers and advocates on what it will take to transform our transportation system to reach safe mobility for all by 2050. Watch the March 31 webcast.
Check out this brief, informative overview: How to Achieve Zero Traffic Deaths.
Credit: Denver Street PartnershipWe recognize that President Biden and his administration face many challenges during this difficult time in our country and that the new administration’s immediate focus is on the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused such harm and suffering. One of many harmful trends of this pandemic has been a significant increase in the rate of traffic deaths and severe crashes. Roadway deaths have been a leading killer in our nation for decades. About 100 people lose their lives on any given day on the nation’s roadways, with traffic crashes being the #1 cause of unintentional/preventable death in the US for those aged 4-21. While the Biden administration is appropriately focused on COVID-19, we cannot overlook its impact on our roads.
Stepping up leadership to address the health crisis of 40,000 preventable traffic deaths each year can reinforce the nation’s path forward to Build Back Better. We recognize the importance of focusing on critical goals of halting the pandemic, improving climate health, growing the economy and addressing racial justice. We urge our nation’s leaders to recognize the intersectionality of these priorities in their work to ensure safe and accessible mobility for all. To do so, the U.S. must acknowledge the need to address decades of policies and practices that have restricted mobility for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), thus limiting their opportunities to school, work, healthcare and more.
Research shows that BIPOC and low-income people in the U.S. are more likely to be killed or suffer severe injuries while walking. This is because these neighborhoods have been disinvested over time, including a lack of adequate sidewalks and bikeways, and an over-abundance of fast-moving, dangerous roadways. Studies also show that communities of color and low-income communities are disproportionately burdened by some programs and policies intended to support traffic safety, such as those around jaywalking and other enforcement strategies that do not address underlying needs for safe built environments and equitable policies. Work towards #ZeroTrafficDeaths must not further exacerbate harm to these communities, but rather elevate equity and justice in traffic safety strategies.
Credit: Dangerous by Design Report, Smart Growth America
The hopeful news is there is so much we can do make our streets safe for all people. For decades, we have had the proven countermeasures and interventions to improve traffic safety. We have watched as other countries made significant progress towards this goal. Now, at a time when almost 40,000 lives are lost each year in crashes in the U.S., we must bring together the knowledge, commitment and leadership necessary to join other countries who recognize the importance of action.
The U.S. can reach the goal of zero traffic deaths, saving lives and improving more affordable access to everyday needs. But to do so, we need to make a commitment, individually and as a nation, to prioritize safety using the most effective and equitable strategies. We hope President Biden will join us in our commitment.
Photo by Sarah Petersen, Portland Bureau of TransportationGroups, organizations, companies and individuals interested in signing on to the letter can do so here. Signatories are being accepted now as the partners work to draw attention to this important issue. A multifaceted media campaign also is underway, with victim impact stories being shared on social media.
Join leading roadway safety organizations and advocates as they call on President Biden and his administration to commit to reducing roadway fatalities to zero by 2050 as supported by the Road to Zero Coalition strategy and report. The letter will demonstrate our collective voice and the power of zero. An initial copy of the letter was sent to President Biden on Jan. 20. Read the letter and sign on here.
Photo by Peter Meitzler for Right of WayYou have the power to grow this movement. One in seven Americans knows someone personally impacted in a crash. Click here to download instructions on how to share your story and amplify our message on why zero is the only acceptable number of traffic deaths. Be inspired by these videos.
The number of lives lost and severely impacted in traffic crashes in the U.S. is staggering. But addressing this preventable public health crisis is possible. All of our friends, family members and neighbors deserve to grow up and live life to the fullest without fear that we or someone we love will be killed or seriously injured in a preventable traffic crash.
The scope and depth of this public health crisis is urgent:
Credit: City of South BendThese tragedies are not unavoidable “accidents.” In fact, roadway crashes are largely predictable and preventable by leveraging the proven policies and practices to prioritize safety. A federal commitment to eliminate fatalities would require that the U.S. develop a plan and commit funding and policy imperative to:
The goal of ending traffic deaths by 2050 in the U.S. has been analyzed by a wide range of diverse stakeholders and safety experts, and specific analysis and recommendations can be found here in the Road to Zero strategy and report. Learn more about efforts across the nation to reach zero traffic fatalities, including the organizations leading this effort to champion safe mobility for all:
Tiffanie Stanfield calls for #ZeroTrafficDeaths​ and calls out the disparate rollout of traffic safety solutions. People living in Black and brown neighborhoods are at disproportionate risk for being killed while walking. We thank St. Louis' Tiffanie Stanfield for her advocacy and her words and honor her loss. Video courtesy of Families for Safe Streets.
Kathy Sokolic of Austin, Texas, shares the story of her nephew, Ben, who sustained a traumatic brain injury at the age of 9 after being hit by a pickup truck while crossing the street in 2016. He is now bedridden and can no longer speak, walk or take care of himself. Kathy's message: All of these incidents are preventable. Video courtesy of Families for Safe Streets.
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