A new standard for safety on our streets — Vision Zero ensures a basic right of safety for all people as they move about their communities. In Massachusetts, Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville have each made a public commitment to Vision Zero, with the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Download our Vision Zero Quick Facts (Español)

LivableStreets is a member of the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition. Visit the Coalition website to learn more.

What's Happening?

• Nearly 7,500 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2021, which is the most pedestrian fatalities in four decades (Governor's Highway Safety Association).

• In 2022, 102 people walking and 10 people biking were killed in Massachusetts by people driving vehicles.

• In 2022, Vision Zero Coalition and the Great Neighborhoods Network put together a questionnaire of questions about mobility & housing; candidates from Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville responded with their answers. Check it out here!

• In April 2022 we launched Dismantling Law Enforcement's Role in Traffic Safety: A Roadmap for Massachusetts. This report offers a vision and framework for moving toward traffic safety without police. You can check out the full report here.

What is Vision Zero?

• Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.

• A commitment to Vision Zero shifts the priority of transportation policies and projects from speed to safety, with the philosophy that crashes can be avoided if streets are designed to protect all people.

• Vision Zero sets a timeline and a commitment and brings stakeholders together to ensure a basic right of safety for all people as they move about their communities.

• The Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition has successfully led efforts to build public support for Vision Zero, improve proposed street designs, influence legislation, and hold city leaders accountable. 

Why Vision Zero?

• Traffic deaths are routinely processed by the public as the unfortunate result of car "accidents" — leaving no one accountable for making changes that can prevent these deaths.

• Cultural attitudes must change to ensure political accountability around safe streets by applying the same focus to traffic deaths as we apply to public campaigns around drunken driving and work site safety.

• To prevent traffic deaths, greater collaboration among local traffic planners, engineers, policymakers, and public health professionals is needed. Vision Zero brings together diverse and necessary stakeholders to address the complex problem of road safety.

What You Can Do

Get involved: Sign up for the MA Vision Zero Coalition email list, and download and share our Vision Zero Quick Facts. 

Volunteer: Join us in spreading the word about the importance of safe and livable streets. Our volunteers are actively involved in tracking projects, tabling at events, and serving as Street Ambassadors.

Stand up and be counted: Attend a (virtual) public meeting. See LivableStreets calendar — it’s updated daily!

Become a member: Join our growing community of people invested in creating safe streets and livable communities. Become a member of LivableStreets today!

Contact: [email protected]