Introduction. In recent days, social media has been discussing the Ministry of Transport’s proposal for cyclists and scooter riders to wear helmets. These quite heated discussions have included references to Vision Zero. What is it?

Vision Zero is a strategy aimed at eliminating all possible road traffic accidents while simultaneously increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for everyone. First implemented in Sweden in the 1990s, it has proven successful in many parts of Europe and is now gaining increasing traction in major American cities as well.

The Problem

Every year, more than 42,000 people perish needlessly on American streets and roads, which corresponds to the population of a small town, with thousands more being injured. We call this problem traffic accidents, but we have every opportunity to prevent them.

For too long, we have assumed that deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents are an inevitable side effect of modern life. Although they are called accidents, we can prevent them by using an active, proactive approach, treating road safety as a public health priority.

The large number of lives lost is not only a personal loss; it also severely impacts society, including economic costs and emotional trauma, as well as taxpayer expenses related to emergency assistance and long-term healthcare costs. Because many fear for their safety on our streets and roads, we cannot consider the freedom of movement to be genuine, and as a result, we endanger public health by increasing sedentary lifestyles and carbon emissions.

Vision Zero is a significant departure from the status quo in two key respects:

Vision Zero recognises that people make mistakes; therefore, the road system, as well as road and mobility policy, must be designed to ensure that inevitable errors do not lead to serious injuries or death. This means that system designers and policymakers are expected to improve the road environment and policies (e.g., speed management) to minimise the likelihood and severity of crashes.

Vision Zero is a multi-sectoral approach that brings together different stakeholders to address this highly complex problem. Previously, meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration between transport planners and engineers, policymakers, and public health specialists was not considered a necessity. Vision Zero acknowledges that safe mobility is promoted by many factors, including road design, speed, behaviour, technology, and policy; the goal of Vision Zero is fixed and clear – zero fatalities or serious injuries.
https://visionzeronetwork.org/about/what-is-vision-zero/