Charlotte Vision Zero Study
PROJECT CONTEXT
The Charlotte Vision Zero study is a comprehensive initiative aimed at eliminating all traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries in Charlotte by 2030. This public safety campaign aligns with the global Vision Zero movement, focusing on road safety reforms and systems-level changes to protect all road users.
Objectives:
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Eliminate Fatalities and Severe Injuries: The primary goal is to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries from road traffic crashes to zero.
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Improve Road Safety for All Users: Enhance the safety of roads for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users through infrastructure improvements, policy changes, and public awareness campaigns.
TEMPORAL DATA
The first map (left) shows the specific locations of fatal and serious crashes. The distribution of these dots is particularly dense in central Charlotte and along major traffic corridors, indicating higher occurrences of severe crashes in these urban or densely populated areas.
This data is converted into a heatmap (center), using a gradient from blue to red to signify areas with varying frequencies of crashes. Blue areas indicate fewer crashes, while red areas represent higher frequencies.
Utilizing a polygon overlay, the third map (right) shades areas according to crash density, with the color intensity ranging from lighter to darker reds. Darker reds indicate higher concentrations of crashes.
Pedestrian Crashes
The series of maps below indicate individual crash sites involving pedestrians. The concentration of crashes appears higher in urban centers, indicating common areas where pedestrian safety may be compromised.
Cyclist Crashes
Similar to the pedestrian map, this series marks the specific locations of cyclist crashes with purple dots for less severe and dark purple for more severe or fatal incidents. It provides a clear depiction of where cyclist incidents are occurring, which is vital for targeting safety measures.
INTERACTIVE MAP
The animation visualizes cyclist accidents over a specified period, highlighting the severity of injuries and the presence of bike lanes. The map dynamically displays locations where cyclist crashes have occurred, with markers color-coded according to the severity of the injury. Bike lane zones are also displayed as overlays on the map, allowing viewers to see the relationship between crashes and cycling infrastructure.
The map includes interactive features that enable users to filter the data specifically for fatal incidents involving cyclists. By selecting this filter, the map zooms in on the locations of fatal crashes, providing a clearer understanding of where the most severe incidents have occurred. This focus helps identify high-risk areas that may require urgent safety improvements or additional protective measures. The ability to toggle between different injury severities and view the data in conjunction with bike lane zones offers comprehensive insights into cyclist safety and infrastructure effectiveness.