Call on President Biden to End Traffic Fatalities#ZeroTrafficDeaths Please join Streets Are For Everyone and lead organizations Families for Safe Streets, Towards Zero Deaths, Road to Zero Coalition, and Vision Zero Network to urge President Biden and his incoming leadership team to commit to reducing traffic fatalities to zero by 2050. As a nation, it is time to take decisive and collective action to address roadway safety and preventable crashes to save hundreds of thousands of lives and end the millions of life-altering injuries seen each year.
Stepping up leadership to address the health crisis of 40,000 preventable traffic deaths each year should be part of the nation’s path forward to Build Back Better. This focus on safe mobility will also advance the intertwined goals of improving the climate, growing our economy, and addressing racial justice in our nation. The efforts to get to zero traffic fatalities must address decades of policies and practices that have lessened mobility and economic opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Research shows that BIPOC and low-income people in the U.S. are more likely to be killed or suffer severe injuries in traffic crashes, as these neighborhoods have been disinvested in over time, including a lack of adequate sidewalks and bikeways and an over-abundance of fast-moving, dangerous roadways. Frequently, programs and policies to support safety – such as those around jaywalking – disproportionately burden communities of color. The commitment to #ZeroTrafficDeaths must recognize the intersections of safe mobility with equity and justice for all. The hopeful news is there is so much we can do to make our streets safe, and prioritize our most vulnerable communities. For decades, we have had the proven countermeasures and interventions to improve traffic safety. We have watched as other countries made incredible progress towards this goal. Now, at a time when almost 40,000 lives are lost each year in crashes, we must bring together the knowledge, commitment, and leadership necessary to join other countries in working towards a goal of zero deaths. The United States can reach the goal of zero traffic deaths, saving lives, and improving access. But to do so, we need to make a commitment, individually and as a nation to prioritize safety. We hope President Biden will join us in our commitment. Sign On to Ask President Biden to Commit to ZeroGroups, organizations, companies, and individuals interested in signing on to the letter can do so here. Signatories are being accepted now as the partners work to draw attention to this important issue. A multifaceted media campaign is also underway, with victim impact stories being shared on social media. Join leading roadway safety organizations and advocates as they call on President Biden and his administration to commit to reducing roadway fatalities to zero by 2050 as supported by the Road to Zero Coalition strategy and report. The letter will demonstrate our collective voice and the power of zero. An initial copy of the letter was sent to President Biden on Jan. 20. Read the letter and sign on here. Join the #ZeroTrafficDeaths ConversationYou have the power to grow this movement. One in seven Americans knows someone personally impacted in a crash. Click here to download instructions on how to share your story and amplify our message on why zero is the only acceptable number of traffic deaths. Learn MoreAmericans deserve a national leader who will put an end to deaths on our roads, end this preventable public health crisis, and address the staggering numbers around traffic safety, including:
These tragedies are not unavoidable “accidents.” In fact, roadway crashes are largely predictable and preventable by leveraging the proven policies and practices to prioritize safety. A federal commitment to eliminate fatalities would require that the U.S. develop a plan and commit funding and policy imperative to:
The goal of ending traffic deaths by 2050 in the U.S. has been analyzed by a wide range of diverse stakeholders and safety experts, and specific analysis and recommendations can be found here in the Road to Zero strategy and report. Learn more about efforts across the nation to reach zero traffic fatalities, including the organizations leading this effort to champion safe mobility for all: |
Contact: Dayna Galbreath |