Vision Zero and the City's Fleet

Vision Zero

Launched in 2014 Vision Zero has one clear goal: Eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries on out roadways. The City is committed to regarding traffic crashes not as mere “accidents” but as preventable incidents that can be systematically addressed. No level of fatality on our streets is inevitable or acceptable. Through Vision Zero the City is using every tool at its disposal to improve the safety of our streets. This includes turning on speed cameras 24/7, adding hundreds of miles of bike lanes and protected bike lanes, providing safety training to school aged children, and by setting the example in the city fleet through both driver training and vehicle safety improvements. This section focuses on the work the city fleet is doing, but you can go to https://www.nyc.gov/VisionZero to find out more about the other citywide programs.

NYC Safe Fleet Transition Plan

The Safe Fleet Transition Plan (SFTP) outlines a series of safety investments that New York City is making in all fleet vehicles. It also lists other technologies that are being implemented in more targeted projects, or that are being assessed or tested. DCAS Fleet Management is working with the NYC Business Integrity Commission (BIC) to explore how technologies can be adopted in private fleets regulated by BIC. DCAS Fleet Management encourages fleets and vehicle manufacturers everywhere to adopt appropriate safety technologies as standard in their vehicles.

• Safe Fleet Transition Plan for Private Fleets
• Safe Fleet Transition Plan Update 2018-2019 (November 2018)
  • NYC Fleet Newsletter November 30, 2018
• Launching the Safe Fleet Transition Plan (May 2017)
  • Safe Fleet Transition: NYC Fleet Technology Case Studies
  • City to Better Protect Pedestrians and Cyclists Through Use of New Trucks
  • Safe Fleet Transition Plan Addendum in Fleet Manual
  • NYC Fleet Newsletter May 30, 2017

Intelligent Speed Assistance

• Mayor Adams Announces Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) Initiative
• Mayor Adams Announces Initial Results of Intelligent Speed Assist Pilot
• Why New York City’s Car Safety Pilot Is a Big Deal (Bloomberg)
• In-vehicle alerts, speed limiters needed to curb epidemic of aggressive driving (Road to Zero Coalition)
• NYC’s speed limiter trial leaves the EU in the dust
• Mayor Adams Announces Six Fold Expansion of NYC ISA Program
• Slowing down in the city using intelligent speed assistance (NY1)

High Vision Trucks

• Simulation of View from High Vision Truck by US DOT Volpe Center
• Boston Blind Zone Safety Initiative/US DOT Volpe Study
• Commentary: Direct vision in commercial trucks is a public safety priority - Peter Goldwasser and Keith Kerman
• Heavy Duty Truck and Pedestrian Crashes at Signalized Intersections: Comparison of High-Vision and Low-Vision Cab Drivers’ Performance on a Driving Simulator (US DOT Volpe Center)
• Solving Blind Zones for Fleets with Direct Vision Cabs
• Together for Safer Roads Launches Direct Vision Cab Standard and Certification in Collaboration with DOT Volpe Center and the City of NY
• US DOT Volpe Center Truck View App

Surround Cameras and Back Up Sensors

• DCAS Announces Surround Cameras for City Fleet Trucks
• DCAS, Parks, and Together for Safer Roads Announce Truck of Future Initiative at United Nations
• City Shows Off Trucks and Buses With Surround-View Cameras

Truck Side Guards

Truck side-guards are large covers that prevent pedestrians and other vulnerable road users from falling into the space between the front and rear wheels of a truck. NYC local law now requires eligible vehicles in the City fleet, certain private fleets in NYC, and certain City contractor fleets to be equipped with side-guards. Prior to enactment of the local law, DCAS Fleet Management launched the largest truck side-guard pilot project in North America, using research by the US DOT Volpe Center. Other cities in North America have also launched pilot projects. There is federal legislation under consideration to mandate similar underride guards that prevent cars and other road users from being crushed by large trucks in collisions.

DCAS Adopts Rule on Truck Side Guards, Implementing Local Law 108 of 2021

Opening Remarks at DCAS Public Hearing on Rule for Local Law 108 – Truck Sideguards

US DOT Announces Comprehensive Actions to Increase Underride Protection on Truck Trailers and Prevent Deadly Crashes

• NYC Vision Zero Side Guard Incentive Program
• Request for NHTSA Truck Side Guard Requirement
• More information about truck side guards:
  • FMCSA Literature Review of Lateral Protection Devices on Trucks (May 2020)
  • Volpe Center Resource Page on Truck Side Guards or Lateral Protective Devices (LPD)
  • CNN video on YouTube: See how side guards could prevent truck crash deaths
  • NJ.com: Truck Side Guards Save Lives

Additional Vision Zero Materials

• Fleet Safety Brochure: Ensuring Safe Streets with New York City’s Fleet
• Fleet Safety is Traffic Safety by Eric Richardson (November 2018)
• Fleet Safety Animation (2020)
• DCAS Vision Zero Policy Recommendation: Barring use of Hands-Free Devices while Operating City Vehicles (March 2016)
• Washington Post: Using hands-free cellphones when you drive is not as safe as you think by David Tuller (March 2021)
• Vision Zero Letter to City Drivers (February 2017)
• NYC DOT Vision Zero page
• Vision Zero Research on the Road-Barry Sheerman

Vision Zero Partners

DCAS works with many entities outside of other City agencies to improve street safety. Here are some of our partners.

• NYC Vision Zero website
• Together for Safer Roads
• Transportation Alternatives
• U.S. DOT Volpe Center
• Vision Zero Network

Vision Zero Fleet Forum

In 2014, DCAS and DOT hosted the first Vision Zero Fleet Forum at the Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Over 350 people participated. Sponsored by DCAS, the Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum every year brings together people representing federal, state, and City agencies, as well as private fleets, equipment suppliers, non-profits, and universities, for the common goal of vehicle safety. Through the Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum, New York City has reached across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to exchange best practices, promote vehicle safety technology, and educate fleet managers about Vision Zero.

For more information on each year’s event, click here.

Training Resources for Drivers and Fleet Operators

NYC Vision Zero agencies have produced several videos and fliers on traffic safety for drivers. Please see our fleet training page to see the resources.