Vision Zero planning for

Local Authorities

Local authorities hold the keys to many essential elements for eliminating road trauma

At Lösningar we see the uniqueness that each local authority brings to serving their community.

We also understand that local authorities often have different priorities, capabilities and challenges.

So we’ve created a product to co-develop with authorities Vision Zero plans which fit local needs. These plans are designed to work as a road safety management system setting out internal practices for planning and monitoring progress towards a Vision Zero road system.

This is a fixed price product for smaller authorities. Large authorities are encouraged to consider our Program Zero or customised solutions.

Planning for zero road trauma
Applying six main steps with Local Authorities

Specify the Safe System

Current road system performance

Road system gap analysis

Model the whole trauma problem

Future focussed counter measures

Measure what matters

Specify the Safe System

Our starting point is to define the strategic purpose of the local authority’s road network. Many councils will already have this in the form of a Movement and Place network classification. Movement and Place designations are often self-evident but local authority decisions may be needed for irregular locations.

We then define the mode of priority in each part of the network and what each must to look like to support safe mobility and safe places.

As this is the project start point we will also workshop local authority trauma reduction aspirations and targets.

Current road system performance

During this step we quantify the existing state of each road and street family. The best results will be achieved where authorities have up to date asset data however simplified approaches are available where this is incomplete.

Road system gap analysis

The road system gap analysis compares road asset data with the desired end state Safe System conditions. Again, we use the Movement and Place matrix to achieve this ensuring the analysis is in line with local authority network planning.

Model the whole trauma problem

Understanding the current trauma problem on your road network will enable you to prioritise investments and choose the best pathway to target achievement. Lösningar’s modelling technique goes one step further. We acknowledge the ongoing evolution of the road transport system and the need to address future challenges.

The starting point is to create a baseline of the future trauma problem in a business-as-usual scenario. The characteristics of these future crashes are then used to model the benefit of different countermeasures based on the authority’s unique circumstances.

Future focussed countermeasures

This is an iterative step that starts with modelling a scenario of countermeasures to meet local authority trauma targets. We then workshop this scenario with the local authority and receive their weightings against the countermeasure selection criteria.

Additional scenarios of countermeasure packages are then modelled and their trauma impacts estimated. Consideration is given to the interdependencies between the local authority and other levels of government in areas such as funding, speed limit setting and regulation.

The closing activity in this step involves the local authority deciding on a preferred scenario for road system transformation.

Measure what matters

The final step in the process involves using the authority’s preferred scenario to build a Key Performance Indicator framework with targets.

The product of the process is a set of simple tools with an evidence base for local authorities to draft their road safety strategy and future investment pipeline.

Become a demonstration locality

We are selecting local authorities for demonstration projects. If you think your authority is ready for Vision Zero planning then send us a note. We’ll arrange a time to talk.