Berkeley looks at pedestrian safety via Vision Zero

The Berkeley City Council approved a Vision Zero Action Plan at its March 10 meeting with a goal of promoting pedestrian safety. Vision Zero is a national program in more than 30 cities, including San Francisco, which has a goal of eliminating pedestrian traffic deaths.

The Berkeley action directs the city manager to form a Vision Zero Coordinating Committee and to work with that committee to develop a Vision Zero Traffic Enforcement policy. 

In March 2018, the Berkeley City Council adopted the Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries in Berkeley by 2028.

A new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association shows an alarming spike in pedestrian deaths throughout the country. During the 10-year period from 2009 to 2018, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased by 53%.