Establishing Vision Zero in New York City – The Story of a Pioneer

Kristianssen, Ann-Catrin · 2022 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-23176-7_20-1

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Summary

This paper analyzes the adoption of the Vision Zero road safety policy in New York City in 2014, examining the political and administrative processes that facilitated this significant policy change. The study is motivated by the need to understand how a specific safety philosophy diffuses from its Swedish origins to a distinct American context, particularly when prior safety initiatives had failed to achieve desired outcomes. The author employs a modified Multiple Streams Framework (MSF), adding a "program stream" to John Kingdon’s traditional problem, policy, and political streams, to analyze the convergence of factors that opened a window of opportunity for change. The research design combines qualitative content analysis of policy documents, action plans, and media reports with 18 semi-structured interviews conducted between 2019 and 2020. The interview respondents included city administration staff, representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets, researchers, and media personnel. This mixed-method approach allows for a detailed reconstruction of the advocacy efforts, political maneuvering, and administrative preparations leading up to the policy’s establishment. The findings indicate that Vision Zero was adopted due to the alignment of four distinct streams. In the problem stream, while New York City was relatively safe compared to other US regions, fatalities were deemed unacceptable when compared to other major global cities, a perception heightened by high-profile child fatalities. In the policy stream, Vision Zero offered a coherent, scientifically grounded solution promoted by NGOs and policy entrepreneurs. The political stream saw Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration prioritize road safety, creating political will. Crucially, the program stream involved the development of a credible implementation plan by public administrators, which legitimized the policy. The study highlights that NGOs played a pivotal role in framing the urgency and providing the advocacy pressure necessary for adoption. The significance of this research lies in its demonstration of how policy diffusion requires adaptation to local political and cultural contexts. The paper concludes that New York’s Vision Zero differs from the Swedish original by placing greater emphasis on law enforcement and individual driver behavior rather than solely on infrastructure redesign. Furthermore, the analysis reveals ongoing tensions regarding equity, noting that enforcement-heavy approaches risk reinforcing discriminatory structures in marginalized neighborhoods. The study underscores that successful policy change in complex urban environments requires not just a viable solution, but a robust implementation program and sustained advocacy from multiple stakeholders.

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• traffic safety culture