Austin, TX traffic fatalities nearly triple in January

Source: Smart Cities Dive Published: Feb. 11, 2020

The city's already-high rate of traffic deaths point to many of the same Vision Zero challenges that cities are grappling with as they start the new year.

The City of Austin, TX is off to a rough start for achieving its Vision Zero goals in 2020

Austin experienced 11 traffic fatalities in the month of January — almost three times the number of traffic fatalities that occurred at the same timeframe last year. The city also experienced an increase in total traffic fatalities in 2019 after three consecutive years of declines following its adoption of Vision Zero in 2015.

Despite a number of recent road safety improvements, including new protected bike lanes and even a car-free street pilot, Austin is facing struggles that are emblematic of the challenges many cities across the country are experiencing as they work toward the ambitious goal to have zero pedestrian, cyclist or motorist deaths on their streets.

It will take time and concerted efforts to "turn the tide of problematic investment and shift our transportation system," Vision Zero Network Founder and Director Leah Shahum told Smart Cities Dive.

"Vision Zero is not a quick fix for what has been literally decades of policies and street designs that have prioritized car traffic over walking and bike safety," she said.

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