North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) officials have unveiled an initiative designed to reduce motor vehicle crash fatalities and serious injuries to zero.
The North Dakota Vision Zero Plan was developed over nine months by North Dakota state agencies and more than 200 traffic safety partners representing state, local and tribal governments, and private organizations. It uses data to identify areas of improvement through education, roadway safety enhancements, and policy decisions.
The vision is to establish a culture of personal responsibility where motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries are recognized as preventable and not tolerated, officials said, adding the mission endeavors to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes.
The short-term goal, the NDDOT said, is to reduce motor vehicle crash fatalities to fewer than 75 by 2020.
“Enhancing safety through education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency medical services is critical to the health and well-being of the citizens of North Dakota and to others who travel on North Dakota roads,” Tom Sorel, NDDOT director, said. “Safety is a top priority for the North Dakota Department of Transportation and partners. Zero fatalities is not impossible, but it will take all of us to get there. The North Dakota Vision Zero Plan offers the opportunity for continued progress.”
The NDDOT said there were 116 crash fatalities in 2017, adding to reach the short-term goal, fatality trends would have to decrease approximately 4.6 percent a year.