Vision Zero
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What is Vision Zero?
Launched in Sweden in the 1990s, Vision Zero has become a multi-national road traffic safety project. Vision Zero highlights the importance of equitable mobility for all.
Vision Zero’s principles focus on the fundamental improvements that need to be made to improve road safety standards, along with the policies that should be put in place, to prevent needless fatalities and injuries caused by road traffic collisions.
Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. The strategy has proved successful across Europe with initiatives like London’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and Europe’s General Safety Regulation (GSR) and is now gaining momentum in major North American cities.
Vision Zero highlights the importance of equitable mobility for all.
Vision Zero’s principles focus on the fundamental improvements that need to be made to improve road safety standards, along with the policies that should be put in place, to prevent needless fatalities and injuries caused by road traffic collisions.
The strategy has proved successful across Europe with initiatives like London’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and Europe’s General Safety Regulation (GSR) and is now gaining momentum in major North American cities.
The Vision Zero has been pivotal to enhancing road safety across the world with numerous countries adopting the initiative to update and enhance their road safety regulations. This includes the introduction of London’s Direct Vision Standard in the UK, and the European Commission’s initiative, Europe on the Move, which seeks to shape and improve road and mobility systems of the future.
Along with ever-evolving road safety regulations, comes the growing responsibility for transport operators, fleet managers and drivers to ensure their vehicles correctly comply with the legislation. This can be particularly challenging when travelling cross-border.
Vision Zero has been pivotal to enhancing road safety across the world with numerous countries adopting the initiative to update and enhance their road safety regulations. This includes the introduction of London’s Direct Vision Standard in the UK, and the European Commission’s initiative, Europe on the Move, which seeks to shape and improve road and mobility systems of the future. North America has also adopted the Vision Zero model, with 40+ cities across the US and Canada taking on the initiative.
Along with ever-evolving road safety regulations, comes the growing responsibility for transport operators, fleet managers and drivers to ensure their vehicles correctly comply with the legislation. This can be particularly challenging when travelling cross-border.
Key Strategies
Driving Change
Safer Streets and Infrastructure
Cities are redesigning intersections, adding bike lanes and introducing pedestrian-friendly zones to create safer spaces for all road users.
Speed Management
Speed limit reductions in high-risk areas have proven effective in reducing crash severity and fatalities.
Data Driven Solutions
Using crash data and analytics, cities identify high-risk areas and implement targeted interventions to prevent collisions.
Technology Integration
Vision Zero encourages using cutting-edge technologies, such as camera systems, vehicle sensors, and automated enforcement tools.
Road Safety Regulations in Europe
Efforts to improve road safety in Europe and the UK have resulted in a raft of varying road regulations, rules and specifications for different types of vehicles.
Although initiatives like Europe on the Move and the EU General Safety Regulation share a common goal – to improve road safety standards across the region – each country and its relevant governing body are independently responsible for reviewing and putting in place their own legislation.
This means that rules for road safety will inevitably differ from nation to nation. The cross over between left-hand lane driving to right-hand lane driving between the UK and Europe further complicates matters.
London’s Direct Vision Standard
In October 2020, the Direct Vision Standard was introduced in the UK. The first legislation of its kind in Europe, it specifies that all goods vehicles weighing more than 12 tonnes require a permit to drive into Greater London, including vehicles from outside the UK.
Milan Blind Spot Regulation
Milan’s Blind Spot Regulation requires owners of any vehicles in categories M2, M3, N2 and N3, dynamically circulating in Milan’s Area B from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., to have vehicle safety equipment capable of detecting the presence of pedestrians and cyclists near the front of the vehicle or on the sidewalk.
Abbiegeassistent Turn Assistant
From July 2022, all long trucks in Germany that weigh up to 44 tonnes and are 25.25 metres in length must abide by Abbiegeassistent. Alongside this, the regulations recommend (but don’t require) that trucks weighing over 7.5 tonnes are fitted with a side camera and a side sensor warning system to alert drivers to objects and people in the nearside blind spot.
Angles Morts
From January 2021, new safety regulations were introduced in France requiring all vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes, whether they are used for goods or passenger transport, to display blind spot stickers. These stickers, known as ‘angles morts’, must be clearly and appropriately displayed on both the sides and the rear informing others of the vehicle’s blind spots.
Vision Zero in North America
North American cities, states, and provinces are adopting the movement to reduce traffic fatalities and severe injuries.
USA
Over 40 U.S cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Seattle have implemented Vision Zero programs. These cities focus on strategies such as reducing speed limits, redesigning streets to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety, and enhancing enforcement measures.
Canada
Canadian cities like Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal are following suit with Vision Zero initiatives. The focus is on protecting vulnerable road users and creating equitable transportation systems.
How does Brigade support Vision Zero?
As a global leader in vehicle safety systems, Brigade has been pivotal in driving the Vision Zero movement by getting customers compliant for DVS in London, Milan’s Blind Spot Regulation, Europe’s GSR, and other vehicle safety initiatives around the world.
These initiatives aim to reduce collisions with vulnerable road users (VRU) by eliminating the blind spot on a vehicle. This is vehicle safety technology that Brigade has been pioneering since 1976.
Direct Vision Standard (DVS)
DVS is a legislation enforced by Transport for London (TfL) requiring HGVs weighing more than 12 tons to possess a permit to drive in Greater London.
EU General Safety Regulation (GSR)
Brigade products comply with the EU’s GSR, which mandates the inclusion of advanced safety features in vehicles. These technologies can be incorporated into Vision Zero strategies to improve vehicle fleet safety.
Milan Blind Spot Regulation
Milan’s Blind Spot Regulation requires owners of any vehicles in categories M2, M3, N2 and N3, dynamically circulating in Milan’s Area B from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., to have vehicle safety equipment capable of detecting the presence of pedestrians and cyclists near the front of the vehicle or on the sidewalk.
FAQs
Can Brigade’s products be retrofitted?
Yes. All of Brigade’s products can be bought and retrofitted by one of our Brigade Service Partners and approved fitters. You can find one near you.
Which vehicles can Brigade’s products be fitted to?
Do Brigade’s products come with a warranty?
Yes. All of Brigade’s products come with a one, two, three or five year warranty. In some cases, products are supplied with lifetime warranties. Find out more about our warranties.
Safety Matters
Embrace the power of safety with Brigade Electronics, an industry leader in robust vehicle safety systems for on road and construction vehicles. We believe in a partnership that extends beyond products to service, offering unwavering support and dependable safety solutions for vehicles.
Our cutting-edge alarms, cameras, and obstacle-detection equipment are designed to endure tough challenges, prevent unseen accidents, and save lives daily.
Our products are built to last, withstanding daily exposure to the elements, unpredictable conditions, and years of heavy use. We offer one of the industry’s most competitive warranties, although you’ll likely never need to use it.
At Brigade we work to empower your fleet with heightened security while fostering relationships built on trust. Partner with Brigade – You’re Safer With Us.
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