What is “Vision Zero”?

    Vision Zero is a global strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. ZERO loss of life on Chapel Hill roads is acceptable. Vision Zero recognizes that people make mistakes, and that these mistakes should not be fatal.

    What is “Vision Zero Chapel Hill”?

    In October 2021, Chapel Hill Town Council adopted the Vision Zero Resolution. “Vision Zero Chapel Hill” is a local initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Town streets by 2031. 

    What are examples of “traffic safety solutions”?

    Traffic Calming

    What is traffic-calming? 

    For all of our qualifying traffic calming projects, we collect pre- and post- data about traffic volume and vehicular speeds. We collect this data with digital devices and through on-site observation. Once we gather that data, we review it with our inter-departmental team and consider next steps following the traffic calming process. 


    Why Are We Using Flexible Plastic Bollards? 

    • The Town uses flexible plastic bollards to test different solutions that address traffic and roadway safety concerns. These bollards allow staff to quickly install and evaluate how the measures work at a low cost. If the measures are deemed effective, they may be made permanent when resources allow. 
    • In the past, speed tables and speed humps were used for traffic calming. However, these elements can damage fire department vehicles, and the Town does not install them anymore. Town staff have a menu of options for treating speed and safety concerns that can be constructed using temporary materials. 

    What is a neighborhood traffic circle/mini roundabout 

    Mini roundabouts and neighborhood traffic circles lower traffic speeds at neighborhood intersection crossings and are an ideal treatment for uncontrolled intersections. Mini roundabouts can be installed with simple pavement striping, bollards, or temporary islands.  

    • The Town installed a traffic circle with plastic bollards at Redbud Lane and Honeysuckle Road to calm traffic speeds in June of 2023.  

    What are chicanes?  

    Chicanes encourage an “S” shape driving direction that slows traffic speeds. In addition to bollards, bike parking, benches, street parking, and other amenities.  

    • Town of Chapel Hill staff worked with the Hargraves Community Center in June 2023 to address concerns about speeding and school bus drop-off safety on North Roberson Street between West Rosemary Street and Mitchell Lane.  Staff installed bollard chicanes (street narrowing structures) on both sides of the school bus drop-off area at Hargraves Community Center to calm traffic  
    • Other examples include the recently completed Estes Drive project that uses the mid-block crosswalk concrete medians to create a chicane. 

    What are curb extensions? 

    Curb extensions visually and physically narrow the roadway, creating safer and shorter crossings for pedestrians while increasing the available space for street furniture, benches, plantings, and street trees. Additionally, curb extensions slow vehicle turning speeds at intersections which provides more reaction time for drivers and increases visibility for pedestrians.    

    • Town staff installed quick-build curb extensions at Sykes Street at Gomains Avenue in February 2022 to slow turning speeds and shorten the crossing distance for people on foot.  

    What are crosswalk gateways? 

    Crosswalk gateways visually narrow the road for drivers approaching mid-block crosswalks which reduces traffic speedThis type of gateway installs bollards on the lane skip line of multi-lane roads, or the double yellow line combined with RRFB (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon) push button lights. Reducing traffic speeds approaching crosswalks gives drivers more reaction time and provides a wider field of vision to see people crossing the street. 

    • Town Staff installed several crosswalk gateway treatments along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in the Spring and Summer of 2024.  

    What is a pilot project (in traffic terms)?

    Piloting projects means testing a treatment and analyzing the results. Town staff will assess the effectiveness of treatments at increasing yield rates, deterring lane shifting, slowing traffic through crosswalks, or whatever other safety concern is being addressed. If a pilot proves to be effective, it can be expanded to other sites or made permanent. 

    What is “Safe Routes to School”?

    Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a Federally funded program that encourages children to walk and bicycle to school through programming and infrastructure improvements. Safe Routes to School programming aims to improve safety conditions of routes to school and encourage more children and families to walk or bicycle to elementary, middle, and high school.  The program uses various tools to support these mobility options to school, including infrastructure planning, policy, programming, and enforcement considerations The Safe Routes to School program is a key element of the Town’s “Vision Zero” initiative– the Town’s strategy to increase the safety of people getting around town using various modes of transportation. The Town of Chapel Hill is committed to improving connectivity and safety for everyone walking, biking and rolling. 

    How do speed limits play an important role in Vision Zero?

    Speed limits within the Town of Chapel Hill, unless otherwise marked, are 25 MPH citywide. Speed is the most important contributing factor to serious injuries and deaths when there are crashes. Pedestrians struck by a vehicle traveling 20 MPH have a 90% survival rate. When speeds are increased to 40 MPH, that survival rate falls to 10%.  Roadway design, traffic calming, and signal timing all contribute to controlling speeds that when a crash happens, it is survivable. 

    DRIVERS: What are safety tips for drivers?

    YIELD for pedestrians in crosswalks, even if it is not marked. 

    YIELD to pedestrians and cyclists when turning. 

    SLOW DOWN when approaching crosswalks, especially at night, during bad weather, and in areas with children. 

    AVOID distractions like texting or eating or shaving (seriously, it happens). 

    OBEY posted traffic signs and signals. 

    SHARE THE ROAD with all users

    SLOW DOWN

    PEDESTRIANS: What are safety tips for pedestrians?

    LOOK for turning cars, backing cars, and traffic in both directions. 

    WALK facing traffic when there is no sidewalk. 

    WEAR one or no earphones. 

    USE CAUTION when exiting the bus, in parking lots and at intersections. 

    BE SEEN. Have a lamp on hand and avoid wearing dark clothing when walking or running at dark. 

    OBEY posted traffic signs and signals. 

    SHARE THE ROAD with all users

    CYCLISTS: What are safety tips for cyclists?

    LOOK for drivers when turning, changing lanes, and approaching an intersection or driveway. 

    RIDE with traffic 

    RIDE predictably and use hand signals to indicate movements 

    WEAR one or no earphones. 

    BE SEEN. Use front and rear lights and consider bright or reflective clothing at night. 

    OBEY posted traffic signs and signals. 

    SHARE THE ROAD with all users

    How can you support the Vision Zero Goals?

    • Drive carefully and BE AWARE of other road users 
    • SLOW DOWN 
    • DO NOT drive, bike, or walk distracted.
    • JOIN the Vision Zero Task Force