Vision Zero Policy

Windsor City Council has endorsed the Vision Zero goal of zero road crash fatalities and serious injuries on Windsor streets. An action plan to achieve this goal was then developed.

What is Vision Zero?

Vision Zero is a philosophy that encourages changes in the way roads work to ensure all fatalities and life-altering injuries caused by auto collisions are eliminated. Its main goal is to make the road network safer, healthier, and equitable for all users, no matter their mode of choice, level of mobility, and other factors.

Vision Zero involves a major paradigm shift from the traditional approach to road engineering and design. The table below, based on the Vision Zero Network’s guidelines, compares the traditional approach to the Vision Zero approach.

Traditional Approach	Vision Zero
Traffic deaths are inevitable.	Traffic deaths are preventable.
Human behavior needs to be perfected.	Humans make mistakes.
We must prevent collisions.	We must prevent fatal and severe injuries.
Road safety is an individual responsibility.	Road safety requires a systems approach.
Saving lives is expensive.	Saving lives is not expensive.

Vision Zero Policy

Windsor City Council approved the Vision Zero Policy, which endorses the goal of zero fatal and serious injury collisions.

To achieve this goal, the Vision Zero Action Plan was developed in collaboration with a Vision Zero Task Force, which is made up of staff across City departments and emergency services, and a Vision Zero Stakeholder Group consisting of community stakeholders and members of the public. Using a data-driven, equity-focused approach, the Vision Zero Action Plan identified strategic priorities, recommended initiatives, and interim goals. Further information regarding the Vision Zero Stakeholder Group is available on the Vision Zero Stakeholder Group web page.

• Vision Zero Policy (Approved February 24, 2020)
• Vision Zero Procedure (Approved February 24, 2020)

Vision Zero Action Plan

The overall goal of the Vision Zero Action Plan is the elimination of fatal and major injury collisions on streets under the jurisdiction of the City of Windsor within 15 years of adoption of the Vision Zero Action Plan.

Ongoing reporting and review is recommended as follows:

Additional updates to the Vision Zero Action Plan may be proposed to Standing Committee and/or Council by way of administration report at any time if the need arises.

Background reports:

• 2017 Road Safety Report
• 2019 Road Safety Report
• Report S54/2019 CQ10-2018 Vision Zero
• Report S201/2019 Vision Zero Policy Implementation
• Report S33/2023 Vision Zero Action Plan Final Report

Progress Reports:

• Progress Report #1 - Strategic Priorities
• Progress Report #2 - Recommended Initiatives Plan:
• Appendix A - Existing Initiatives
• Appendix B - Vision Zero Initiative Details

Resources

If you would like to learn more about Vision Zero, there are many resources available:

• Parachute Canada: Vision Zero
• Vision Zero Network: Vision, Strategies, Action: Guidelines for an Effective Vision Zero Action Plan
• Vision Zero Network: Core Elements for Vision Zero Communities
• Canada's Road Safety Strategy