Safe Streets for All

Raleigh aims to eliminate crash fatalities with new initiative

In 2023, Raleigh experienced over 19,000 car crashes, resulting in 41 fatalities. These staggering numbers—in combination with the city’s steadily increasing population—are inspiring plans for safer, more equitable and better-connected transportation. And thanks to a federal grant, the city is further working to build roads that are safer for all via a new program. 

Aptly called “Safe Streets and Roads for All,” the initiative builds on the city’s Vision Zero program and prioritizes the elimination of roadway crashes resulting in fatalities and severe injuries—with the aim to reduce injury crashes by 25% every five years and 100% by 2045.

“Vision Zero and the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan are about taking a proactive approach,” explains Mayor Janet Cowell. To boot, the city will examine infrastructure, traffic patterns and crash data to identify and then implement necessary changes. “In a rapidly growing city like Raleigh, every safety improvement we make is essential to preventing future tragedies and protecting our community,” Cowell emphasizes. 

An 18-month study with the initial grant is underway, observing what locations would most benefit from improved infrastructure—like additional protected left-hand turn lanes—and to understand what behavioral problems (like lack of seatbelt use or speeding) need to be addressed most urgently. 

Once the study is wrapped up, a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan will be assembled—a requirement for eligibility to apply for up to $30 mill in additional grant money to help bring the plan to life.

Keeping Raleighites safe while driving has always been a top priority, though, emphasizes Sean Driskill, Vision Zero program manager with the City of Raleigh’s Transportation Department. “For the last two and a half years we’ve been making improvements around the city,” he says, “but this study will help us ensure the improvements we’re making are at the locations that will have the most impact.”

“There’s a small percentage of locations we can improve through infrastructure,” Driskill adds, “but if we really want to achieve Vision Zero we need many of the behaviors of drivers around Raleigh to change.” raleighnc.gov

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