Regional Safety/Vision Zero

MTC is working to reduce deaths and injuries from traffic collisions by supporting Bay Area Vision Zero initiatives.

Credit
City of San Jose Department of Transportation
Technical Assistance

Local agency staff: Get more Vision Zero resources at the Technical Assistance Portal on abag.ca.gov.

The number of people killed in traffic crashes is on the rise. “Vision Zero” is a nationwide movement to reduce traffic injuries to zero.

MTC is working to make the streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and others by:

  • Establishing the MTC Regional Safety/Vision Zero Policy
  • Developing a regionwide Safety Data Repository and Safety Analysis Tool
  • Leading the Bay Area Vision Zero Working Group

A regional approach can promote improved safety and eliminate some duplication of costs among cities and counties, allowing local governments to redirect their limited dollars toward implementing new safety projects and policies. 

MTC Regional Safety/Vision Zero Policy

TheMTC Regional Safety/Vision Zero Policy establishes a strategy for working with partner agencies to support equitable and data-driven action towards eliminating traffic deaths and serious vehicular injuries in the Bay Area by 2030. 

MTC Regional Safety/Vision Zero Policy: Download and read the complete policy to learn more about goals and priorities.

Incentives for Improvement

An important piece of MTC’s Vision Zero policy is the use of incentive programs to encourage the adoption of Vision Zero plans and safety best practices. For example, cities and counties with a Vision Zero Plan may designate Connected Community Priority Development Areas, which gives them access to additional funding opportunities.

Regional Safety Data System

MTC’s Regional Safety Policy will be data-driven, so that funds and resources are used most efficiently. To support this, MTC will serve as the region’s single, integrated safety data bank. MTC's Safety Data System, BayVIZ, will improve cities’ and counties’ access to safety-related data and analysis tools, so they can develop tailored traffic safety plans and identify countermeasures to reduce traffic fatalities.

This flexible system integrates information about:

  • Crashes
  • Infrastructure
  • Equity 
  • Demographics
  • Additional data that becomes available over time

BayVIZ supports safety analyses that cities can use for their unique priorities and challenges. The system can analyze data from individual intersections, longer transportation corridors and everything in between.

At the local level, data can be used to identify specific safety challenges and develop safety enhancing countermeasures. At the regional level, data will be used for safety target-setting and monitoring of progress towards safety goals.

Safety is an Equity Issue

In San Francisco, 75% of severe and fatal traffic injuries take place on only 13% of city streets, known as the High Injury Network. Half of these crashes take place in Equity Priority Communities.

Bay Area Traffic Fatalities

How many people die on Bay Area roads? The Vital Signs website has the data.

Get the statistics.
Bay Area Traffic Injuries

How many people are injured on Bay Area roads? Get the numbers on the Vital Signs website.

See the data.

Staff Contacts

Shruti Hari, Principal, Safety, Mobility & Accessibility
Phone: (415) 778-5360
Email: shari@bayareametro.gov

Bryan Redmond, Assistant Program Coordinator, Safety & Asset Management
Phone: (415) 778-5311
Email: bredmond@bayareametro.gov

Vision Zero Working Group

The MTC-led Bay Area Vision Zero Working Group strives to make the region’s streets safer for everyone, especially pedestrians and bicyclists.