Vision Zero Aims to Stop Traffic-Related Injuries & Fatalities in Indianapolis

Unknown to many Hoosiers, a local task force was established in 2024 to aggressively and strategically push back on the many traffic dangers facing Indianapolis.

The name of that task force? Vision Zero. Their goal? Eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries in our capital city by 2035.

When attorney Matt Boulton was asked about Vision Zero’s lofty goals, he referred to the network’s success in other cities.

“The Vision Zero program has been in use for approximately 30 years, but it’s only recently that Indianapolis joined the network. My hope is that we eventually achieve the same types of traffic-safety improvements seen in other cities across the country.”

One of the cities in attorney Boulton’s example included Hoboken, New Jersey. An early adopter of the Vision Zero program, Hoboken marked seven consecutive years without a traffic-related death. The city also recorded a significant reduction in traffic accidents that resulted in serious injury.

However, attorney Boulton also noted the wide array of challenges unique to a particular city and why Hoosiers shouldn’t be quick to expect immediate results or outright dismiss Vision Zero’s chances for success in Indianapolis.

“It wouldn’t be realistic to expect Hoboken’s plan to achieve the same results for Indianapolis, and I don’t think anyone would, but there is also evidence that a measurable difference has been achieved in much denser U.S. cities, such as the case with Vision Zero in New York.”

When and where did Vision Zero get its start?

The Vision Zero Network got its start in Sweden during the 1990s. Since its inception, the program has become a multinational road-traffic safety project that has been adopted by numerous countries, including:

• United States
• Canada
• India
• Netherlands
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• Sweden

While Indianapolis has only recently implemented Vision Zero, several major U.S. cities, such as Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, etc., have several years of experience with the program and are reporting varying levels of success.

What does Vision Zero look like in Indianapolis?

Specifically, the Indianapolis Vision Zero policy is a decade-long commitment to eliminating our city’s serious crashes involving drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, and the city officials and council members behind it are thinking carefully about every type of person who uses our streets.

Currently, design engineers attached to Indianapolis’s Vision Zero initiative are exploring a number of improvements, some of which include:

• narrowing the city’s traffic lanes to naturally slow speeds
• better synchronizing traffic signals
• building safer city sidewalks and protected bike lanes
• expanding the use of roundabouts at high-risk intersections

“We are making sure that we’re thoughtful about each user: the vehicle, the bicyclist, the walker, the elderly, the young,” said DPW Director Todd Wilson. “Those are the things that we think about, plan and design our roadway intersections.”

IMPD’s role in a successful Vision Zero program

Indianapolis law enforcement agencies are working to keep pace with the city’s evolving challenges, which has led IMPD and its officers to adopt a broader rethinking of traffic enforcement strategies, such as adding officers to its cycle unit and using technology to put more boots on the ground where residents need them most.

“Our officers are responding to traffic complaints,” said IMPD Assistant Chief Michael Wolley. Driver behavior has also shifted in recent years, with incidents like street takeovers adding new layers of complexity to keeping our roads safe.

One of the biggest culprits in crashes? Distracted driving. Statistics consistently show that phone use behind the wheel is a leading factor in collisions — a reminder that infrastructure and enforcement can only go so far.

“We can have the conversations, we can do the enforcement piece,” Wolley said, “but until people start making those decisions as they drive and as they walk and as they ride the bikes, I don’t know that we’re gonna have a whole lot of success.”

Ultimately, safer streets are a shared responsibility, but Vision Zero is proof that our city is taking a much-welcomed step toward doing its part.

About Boulton Law Group

Founded by attorney Matt Boulton, the Boulton Law Group is a boutique Indiana personal injury firm devoted to helping injured Hoosiers throughout the state.

Attorney Boulton brings 30+ years of award-winning experience to his clients’ cases. His track record of success has led him to be sought after by victims and families affected by high-profile incidents and matters involving complex liability.

Boulton Law Group focuses exclusively on personal injury matters involving:

• car accidents
• truck accidents
• motorcycle accidents
• dog bite injuries
• wrongful death lawsuits
• pedestrian injuries
• bicycle accidents
• rideshare accidents (Uber/Lyft)

To help ensure accident victims receive maximum compensation for their injuries and losses, attorney Boulton handles every facet of his clients’ cases from start to finish.

Additionally, Boulton Law Group offers all accident victims a Zero Fee Guarantee. This promise means consultations are always free and there is never a charge or fee of any kind until the case is settled or won at trial.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident and are unsure about your next steps, you can share your story with attorney Boulton by using the firm’s confidential and free contact form.