Vision Zero

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Vision Zero is a data-driven traffic safety policy that takes an ethical approach towards achieving safety for all road users. The goal is to achieve a reduction in the number of fatal and serious injury crashes to zero in Tempe, because everyone deserves to get home safely.

illustration of a road and the words vision zero tempe

As part of Tempe’s Vision Zero initiative to reduce serious injury and fatal collisions on our roads, safety corridors were created to give extra attention to the areas that need it most. The corridors are selected each year based on statistical analysis of collision data, and they rotate to new locations every quarter. In these corridors, you will see strict enforcement of traffic laws, extra patrols, and possible updates to the street infrastructure.

The corridors for April - June are:

48th Street, Southern Avenue to Broadway Road

McClintock Drive, Don Carlos to SR202

McClintock Drive, Southern Avenue to Baseline Road

Baseline Road, Calle Los Cerros to Priest Drive

View the April 15 public meeting recording here

Real-Time Operations Center

Tempe launched a Real-Time Operations Center in summer 2024. This technology connects the hundreds of traffic, park and facilities cameras in Tempe so that police can easily review footage to determine what occurred at traffic incidents, resolve crimes and tend to infrastructure needs, like graffiti removal or replacing landscaping. Tempe is the 5th city in Maricopa County to implement this technology, but the first to use it for issues beyond solving crimes.

Slow Down

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that a person’s reaction time while driving is about 1.5 seconds. And we all know that higher speeds increase a vehicle’s braking distance. That means if you are driving at 20 mph, your vehicle will travel about 63 feet in the time it takes you to react and stop. At 40 mph that distance increases to about 164 feet.

Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately - REDDI

When road users encounter a dangerous driver, often times they aren't sure who to contact. Let this be your official answer: Call 911! We consider dangerous driving to always be an emergency, and the best way to let Tempe Police know is by alerting dispatchers via 911. When you call the non-emergency line, the dangerous driver is often long gone before that team can address it. And if you notify city council or any other city official channel, it will take several steps to get enforcement to investigate. So remember the acronym - REDDI - Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately.

Safety Corridor Banners

As part traffic enforcement, Tempe created safety corridors based on statistical analysis of a higher propensity for collisions. These corridors are targeted for strict enforcement, engineering analysis, and are also marked by Vision Zero signage.

Safety Coor banner Strict Enforcement

Photo Enforcement

Tempe residents have rated safer streets among their top priorities in our annual Community Survey. To encourage safer driving, the City of Tempe has installed cameras at several intersections and will be issuing traffic tickets for speeding and running red lights starting in June 5. Studies show these are effective tools to reduce serious collisions.

Get details about the program and what to do if you get a ticket at tempe.gov/PhotoEnforcement.

Photo Enforcement Map_030625

Dashboard

Past Updates (2022 and older)

Vision Zero neighborhood community meetings

Watch the video from the Feb. 1, 2022 meeting

Watch the video from the Feb. 15, 2022 meeting

Watch the video from the Feb. 23, 2022 meeting

View the meeting presentation PDF

Traffic safety devices installed around schools

August 2021: The city installed high-visibility crosswalks at Tempe elementary and Kyrene schools and flashing speed limit signs around Tempe high schools. Read more about these traffic safety devices.

Intersection improvement projects completed

2020/2021: Tempe improved the intersections at Rural Road and University Drive and at Rural Road and Rio Salado Parkway by adding turn lanes. The improvements were aimed to increase capacity and enhance safety and include construction of additional turn lanes, new traffic signals, updated sidewalk ramps (ADA) and improved transit stops. Public meetings were held Jan. 22 & 25, 2020. Online comment was available Jan. 22 until Feb. 14, 2020. Read the January 2020 public comments PDF.

Speed limits changed

In 2020, Tempe explored lowering speed limits throughout the city. Residents were invited to four informational sessions in November and December 2019 to discuss proposed speed limit changes and provide feedback. Public meetings were held Nov. 16 & 21 and Dec. 11 & 14, 2019. Online comment was available Nov. 16 to Dec. 28, 2019. View the presentation from the 2019 speed limit meetings PDF. 2019 proposed speed limit reduction meeting public comments PDF. Speed limits were changed adjacent to high schools by time of day and along College Avenue from Alameda to US 60.

Tempe's Vision Zero Action Plan approved

In May 2019, Tempe’s Vision Zero Action Plan was approved by the Tempe City Council. The plan seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injury crashes by using crash data and developing strategies in several key areas, including distraction, pedestrians and intersections. While the plan was being developed, Tempe took a proactive approach to implementing Vision Zero strategies, including adopting a distracted driving ordinance and the installation of LED streetlights improving nighttime visibility. Vision Zero Action Plan PDF.

Public meetings about the plan were held March 23 and 27, 2019 and online comment was available March 23 to April 6, 2019.

Tempe's distracted driving ordinance updated to primary offense

In March 2019, the Tempe City Council approved changes to the city’s Distracted Driving Ordinance. The changes allowed Tempe Police to cite drivers for holding, typing on or operating a mobile device while driving. Removing the distraction associated with handheld mobile devices allows drivers to better focus attention on driving, resulting in improved safety for all roadway users.

Tempe recognized as first Vision Zero city in Arizona

In February 2019, the Vision Zero Network officially recognized Tempe as the first Vision Zero city in Arizona.

Tempe moves forward with Vision Zero planning

In January 2019, Tempe created a Vision Zero action plan. Three working groups were formed to develop strategies in the following areas: education, engineering and enforcement/emergency response. These groups met in August and October 2018 to further develop strategies to achieve the Vision Zero goal.

2019 PowerPoint presentation PDF.

Tempe's Vision Zero Workshop

In June 2018, over 50 stakeholders, including residents, students and employees, attended a workshop to brainstorm strategies to help eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injury crashes in Tempe.

2018 workshop PowerPoint presentation PDF.

Vision Zero Workshop Summary: June 2018 PDF.

Tempe becomes first city in Arizona to adopt a Vision Zero resolution

In March 18, the Tempe City Council unanimously voted to adopt a Vision Zero framework resolution PDF, becoming the first city in Arizona to do so.

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