The Vision Zero Program Aims To Eliminate Traffic Fatalities In West Palm Beach By 2030
West Palm Beach is the site of an unusually high number of car accidents, including those that cause fatalities and serious injuries. One could point to a number of reasons. DUI, drivers not wearing seat belts, pedestrian driving, and unsafe pedestrian behavior near major roads are some of the causes, but whatever the reason, the hundreds of crashes that happen each year in West Palm Beach are too many. To address this problem, West Palm Beach has adopted the Vision Zero Program, a nationwide road safety initiative. While the program aims to prevent future accidents, it does not offer solutions for people who have already been injured in car accidents. A car accident injury lawyer can help you if you have sustained serious injuries in a car accident.
What Is the Vision Zero Program?
The Vision Zero Program is a three-pronged approach to improving road safety in West Palm Beach. Its goal is for the city to have 2030 be a year completely free of car accidents that result in death or serious injuries. Its approach can be summarized by the three E’s, as follows:
- Engineering – repairing and redesigning parts of the city’s roads where the construction or design of the roads contributes to accidents, such as intersections where it is difficult to see other drivers turning.
- Education – informing drivers and pedestrians of all ages about road safety, addressing such issues as distracted driving and drowsy driving.
- Enforcement – Using traffic citations and criminal penalties to deter drivers from speeding, drunk driving, unsafe use of mobile phones while driving, and other risky behaviors.
At some Vision Zero Events, city employees will distribute free helmets to be worn when riding a bicycle or electric scooter.
Why Does West Palm Beach Need the Vision Zero Program?
The number of traffic accidents in West Palm Beach is unacceptably high. In the six-and-a-half-month period ending June 19, 2019, there were 625 car accidents that involved injuries or worse; 53 of these accidents were hit and run accidents.
One victim of a hit-and-run accident was Nelson Rodriguez, a 29-year-old father of four. He was crossing Dixie Highway on foot when a dark gray Camaro struck him and kept going. Police later found the vehicle abandoned on Tamarind Avenue, but the driver has yet to be identified.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
Even if you take all reasonable safety measures, such as driving defensively, wearing seatbelts, using crosswalks when traveling on foot, and wearing a helmet when bicycling, you cannot control what other drivers do. If you are injured in a car accident, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit and seek compensation for your financial and emotional losses.
Contact Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather Injury Lawyers About Car Accident Injury Cases
An injury-free year for the roads of West Palm Beach is a worthy goal, but too many people have already been injured in car accidents. If you have suffered a serious injury, contact Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather Injury Lawyers for a consultation to see if you have grounds for a lawsuit.
