Hoboken, New Jersey, has emerged as a national model for roadway safety, reporting zero traffic fatalities since January 2017. The city of nearly 60,000 people achieved this impressive milestone by implementing innovative traffic safety measures, particularly embracing the Vision Zero initiative. Vision Zero, originating in Sweden, seeks to eliminate traffic deaths by considering no accident as truly unavoidable.
Hoboken’s commitment to Vision Zero includes various components such as lower speed limits, staggered traffic lights, and a focus on daylighting – the removal of parking spaces near intersections to improve visibility. The city, ranked fourth in population density nationwide, has successfully widened curbs and shortened crosswalks at street corners during road repaving projects. This strategy, known as daylighting, contributes significantly to enhancing safety for pedestrians and motorists.
While daylighting has played a crucial role in Hoboken’s success, it has not been without its critics. Some argue that removing parking spaces, already scarce in the city, hampers businesses and disrupts the flow of traffic. However, the city’s transportation director, Ryan Sharp, emphasizes that Hoboken’s approach is about focusing on fundamentals and layering safety measures over time.
Hoboken’s achievements challenge the notion that reaching zero traffic deaths is merely aspirational. Other major U.S. cities, including New York, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Baltimore, and Portland, have incorporated aspects of the Vision Zero program into their safety plans. Hoboken’s success demonstrates that a comprehensive and strategic approach, coupled with community support, can significantly improve roadway safety and achieve the ambitious goal of zero traffic fatalities.
