An article in Transportation Research Record, Volume 2582, "A Vision for Transportation Safety Framework for Identifying Best Practice Strategies to Advance Vision Zero," presents a Traffic Safety Best Practices Matrix. Vision Zero programs consist of actions and policies aimed at the elimination of traffic-related fatalities over a set period of time. The matrix is a tool to help U.S. cities identify the range of strategies being used domestically and internationally to advance Vision Zero programs, an approach to traffic safety pioneered in Sweden.

Despite increasing interest in Vision Zero programs and policies, little guidance exists around what Vision Zero is and exactly what actions can be implemented to help realize zero deaths. This matrix presents and summarizes the results of a comprehensive examination of the measures that cities and countries are pursuing to reduce traffic-related fatalities and improve safety. The matrix attempts to bridge the gap by presenting a framework that cities can use to identify effective strategies, benchmark their efforts relative to other jurisdictions, and reach out to cities and countries pursuing Vision Zero policies for additional information.

The main recommendations are to develop mechanisms that institutionalize Vision Zero across sectors, focus education on supporting changes in organizational practices and policy reform, improve collaboration across all levels of government, explore technology that meets the unique needs of cities, and create data systems that facilitate accountability and encourage public participation.