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In 2021, City Council unanimously resolved to endorse a Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on Knoxville’s streets.

Vision Zero is an international movement to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. Vision Zero communities commit to the following principles:

• Sustained collaboration across the community
• Data-driven decision making
• Equity and community engagement
• Transparent communication about processes, progress, and challenges

Vision Zero aligns with the City's focus on public safety, connectivity, and equitable mobility. By using a comprehensive approach that brings together road design, public education, and law enforcement, we can prevent life-altering crashes.



CRASH DATA

Over the last five years, 1,183 traffic crashes in Knoxville resulted in a fatality or serious injury. This means there is a life-altering crash every 37 hours in our community.

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (Knox TPO) reviews crashes and publishes data, maps, and visualizations. They have identified several factors and trends in these life-altering crashes:



KNOXVILLE'S COMMITMENT TO SAFE STREETS

The City's formal commitment to Vision Zero in 2021 reflects a long history of efforts towards public safety. Since 2017, we have invested over $43 million in comprehensive and integrated street networks to safely accommodate all types of users and modes of transportation.

The City uses a safe systems approach that integrates roadway design, law enforcement, transit, public health, and other sectors - and involves multiple government divisions, community groups, technical experts, and other key stakeholders.

We gather data and engage the community to inform long-term planning, such as the Sidewalk Study and Bicycle Facilities Plan.

We implement best practices and programs such as the Complete Streets Policy, reduced speed limits, Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program, and Engineering Traffic Safety.

We lead coalitions and campaigns to improve safety, such as 'Save Lives with 25' and 'Minimum Three in Tennessee'.

And we're bringing together engineering, education, and enforcement to reach our Vision Zero goal.


TIMELINE

Stage 1: Develop the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan

As part of our commitment to Vision Zero, the City will adopt an Action Plan that serves as a 'road map' to reach our goals. Our Action Plan will focus on engineering, education, and enforcement strategies, and be guided by a broad coalition of stakeholders.

The City launched this planning stage in February 2022.

In late 2022, the City joined a coalition of local governments led by Knoxville-Knox County Planning to complete a Regional Roadway Safety Plan. This process includes the creation of a City-specific Action Plan, which should be completed by summer 2023. Our Action Plan will align with Vision Zero and federal 'Safe Streets For All' program guidelines.

Stage 2: Implement Action Plan

After the Action Plan is adopted, the City and partners will implement specific projects and programs outlined in the plan.

The Action Plan (which will be published on this webpage) will include guidelines on when and how progress will be measured and reported.


RESOURCES

ABOUT

• Vision Zero Network 
• Toward Zero Deaths - national coalition on highway safety
• Tennessee Highway Safety Office - state program addressing data, safety, and enforcement
• National Roadway Safety Strategy - USDOT strategy to reach zero roadway fatalities
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - federal agency enforcing vehicle safety standards and funding highway safety

	Report a Safety Problem on City Streets (Potholes, Lighting Outages, Street Cleaning, etc.)

ROADWAY DESIGN

• City 'Slow Down in K-Town' - anti-speeding education and resources for City neighborhoods
• City Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program - traffic calming elements for City neighborhoods
• City Civil Engineering - manages local roads, sidewalks, bridges, and greenways within City
• City Transportation Engineering - monitors traffic and manages roadway signage/markings within City
• TN Department of Transportation - monitors traffic and manages state highways and interstates across Tennessee

	Click to open Rules of the Road Pocket Card

ROAD USER EDUCATION

• TDOT Pedestrian Laws & Bicycle Laws - legal rights and responsibilities of drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians in Tennessee
• THSO Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety - information and resources for cyclists and pedestrians in Tennessee (including printable Pocket Card at right)
• City Bicycle Safety program - bicyclist safety and rights (including Minimum 3 in Tennessee law)
• TPO I BIKE KNX - cycling resources and infrastructure
• Bike Walk Knoxville Driver Training - program teaching drivers how to share the road safely with bicyclists and pedestrians
• THSO Reduce TN Crashes - promoting safe driving for teens
• KPD Teen Driving Program - defensive driving education for licensed teens
• KPD Safety City - education on roadway safety for elementary-age children
• KPD Child Safety Seat Checkpoints - free inspections of child car seats
• Knox County Safe Routes to School - support for students to safely walk and bike to school
• Tennessee Traffic Safety Laws - state traffic laws (including speeding, DUI, motorcycles, pedestrians, children and minors, emergency vehicles, work zones, helmets, and mobile devices)
• Hands Free Tennessee - education on state law limiting drivers' use of mobile devices
• KPD 'What to do if you're involved in a crash'
• NHTSA Bicycle Safety - information and tips on bike safety
• AAA Safety - information about safety for all road users (including seniors and teens)
• THSO Older Driver Safety - resources for senior drivers and caregivers

NEWS & EVENTS

• (Expected) June 4, 2023 - Bike Walk Knoxville to host Open Streets Knoxville
• February 14, 2023 - City launches public outreach to gather input on life-altering crashes for regional plan
• January 2023 - Knox TPO begins regional roadway safety planning process
• October 1, 2022 - Bike Walk Knoxville releases 'Crash Survivor Stories' video
• August 18, 2022 - City Council workshop on active transportation studies
• July 12, 2022 - TN Highway Safety Office announces 'Operation Southern Slow Down' in July
• July 1, 2022 - City reduces speed limits on unposted roads and launches 'Save Lives with 25' campaign
• June 16, 2022 - WATE interviews Vision Zero leaders on speed limit reduction
• May 16, 2022 - Vision Zero stakeholder coalition meets
• May 15, 2022 - Open Streets Knoxville event on Sevier Ave
• January 10, 2022 - City launches public survey on road safety
• November 30, 2021 - City Council approves policy reducing unposted speed limits
• October 19, 2021 - City Council passes resolution endorsing Vision Zero goal