Arlington Marks Vision Zero Year 1, Launches Crash Awareness Campaign

Published on May 10, 2022

Arlington is evaluating results from the first year of Vision Zero, the critical transportation safety initiative with the goal for residents, commuters and visitors to arrive safely to their destinations no matter their means of traveling in the County.

In May 2021, the County Board adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan, a 5-year roadmap aimed at reducing severe and fatal traffic crashes through a data-driven, holistic approach. The Vision Zero program is a collaboration between the County’s safety-related departments to ensure that all possible projects and programs support safe transportation access and options.

The Vision Zero Year 1 Annual Report summarizes progress made on each of the more than 90 action items set forth within the 5-year Action Plan during the first year of the program. Some noteworthy examples of safety efforts conducted in Year 1 include:

• Completion of the 2020 Crash Hot Spot Analysis & Action Strategy
• Review of Arlington’s High-Injury Network corridors via safety walk audits 
• Facilitation of 55 transportation safety classes or events with more than 2,800 attendees
• Expansion of the County’s automated enforcement capabilities (including the red-light camera program and laying the groundwork for a new speed camera program)
• Introduction of 20 mph school slow zones in 11 neighborhoods to test speed reduction strategies that will improve safety around Arlington County schools
• Collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to improve safety on state-maintained roadways

The County’s Vision Zero team will host a Year 1 Wrap-Up Year 1 Wrap-Up Open House on Wed., May 11, at Lubber Run Community Center. The public can drop in at any time from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to learn about Vision Zero and share thoughts on transportation safety to help the team prepare for Year 2.

The County will kick off the program’s second year by launching a Critical Traffic Crash Awareness campaign. The effort includes messaging focused specifically on changing the most common human behaviors that lead to crashes with severe or fatal outcomes in Arlington. The campaign will run from May through December 2022 and will concentrate on different behaviors each month, starting with Bike Awareness Month in May.

Look for Critical Traffic Crash Awareness messaging this summer. Remember: Always stay aware of your surroundings—no matter how you get around!