Getting around Harris County shouldn’t put your life at risk. Currently, Harris County and our surrounding region are some of the deadliest places in the country for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Every day, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians are seriously injured or killed on our roadways. That is why Harris County is working toward Vision Zero.
Vision Zero is an internationally recognized strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries on roadways while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all. At the core of Vision Zero is a belief that all people should be able to move safely and freely in their communities.
The goal of Harris County's Vision Zero Action Plan is to create a framework in which, over time, traffic fatalities and traffic-related serious injuries will be eliminated in unincorporated Harris County. Furthermore, Harris County is working alongside the City of Houston Vision Zero to ensure that our region meets this commitment to a safer future together.
Vision Zero reshapes the way we think about and achieve safety on our roads, considering safe streets, safe speeds, safe vehicles, and safe people.
Vision Zero has been adopted by cities around the world. In Texas, the cities of Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Laredo have adopted Vision Zero Action Plans. However, Harris County is the first Texas county to adopt a Vision Zero Action Plan, along with several large counties in other states, including Los Angeles County.
This may seem like a daunting goal for a county of our size, but as the largest county in the state, we need to be a leader and an example for other counties to follow. The path to eliminating roadway crashes and fatalities has to be equitable and provide safe transportation options for all road users in all parts of our county, especially those that are underserved. We look forward to working with all of our communities on this project and making Harris County a safer place to get around.