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Written by Genevieve Bowen on February 18, 2026
With Miami routinely ranked among the nation’s riskiest cities for drivers and pedestrians, the city is moving forward with a Vision Zero goal in hopes of eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries on local streets.
The city is drafting the framework for its Vision Zero policy after Miami commissioners unanimously approved the program Feb. 12. Over the next 90 days, staff is to compile crash data, research best practices and collaborate across departments to develop a plan for safer streets and present it to the commission for final sign-off.
Vision Zero is an international, evidence-based strategy first adopted in Sweden in 1997. It seeks to eliminate all traffic deaths and severe injuries by prioritizing human life over vehicle speed. The approach promotes safe mobility for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, scooter riders, transit passengers and drivers, through forgiving street design, enforcement of traffic laws and equitable transportation policies. Its core principles include managing speed, sharing responsibility between planners and road users, and treating traffic fatalities as preventable public health issues.
During last week’s meeting, Commissioner Ralph Rosado sponsored the resolution, emphasizing the need to protect Miami’s most vulnerable road users. While supporting the safety aspect, Commissioner Miguel Gabela voiced concerns that the policy could worsen the city’s already congested traffic.
Mayor Eileen Higgins addressed those concerns by highlighting Miami-Dade County’s Vision Zero initiative, which leverages federal and state grant funding to improve roadway safety. She noted the program targets high-crash intersections, often by redesigning streets rather than simply slowing traffic, to reduce fatalities and severe injuries.
“It’s a good safety project for drivers and pedestrians, and we have money for half of the ones in the city already ready,” Ms. Higgins said.
“There are 100 high-crash sites in the county. Fifty are on state roads, so they’re out of local control, but 19 of those in the county plan were in the City of Miami,” Ms. Higgins added. She noted that funding has been secured to improve seven of those city intersections, with six supported through federal Safe Streets for All grants and one through the Florida Department of Transportation Highway Safety Improvement Fund.
The county’s efforts began in 2018 with its first Vision Zero Plan from the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization. In 2021, county Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the commission formally established the Vision Zero Program and developed a framework plan, followed by the 2024 Vision Zero Action Plan, which lays out a five-year roadmap through 2028 to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
City Manager James Reyes requested extending the policy development timeframe from 30 to 90 days to ensure a thorough, coordinated approach across departments. The commission approved the extension unanimously, giving staff time to compile data, consult stakeholders and draft a framework that balances safety with mobility.
The city’s Vision Zero efforts are to focus on reducing speeds, improving street design and addressing high-risk areas, particularly those affecting children, older adults, people with disabilities, low-income residents and other disproportionately impacted groups. By making streets safer for all modes of transportation, officials hope to encourage walking, biking and transit use, promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing environmental pollution.
Traffic statistics underscore the urgency. In 2025, Miami-Dade County recorded 55,610 crashes resulting in 271 fatalities and more than 26,000 injuries, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Of those fatalities, 81 were pedestrians and 15 were bicyclists – roughly 35% of all traffic deaths – while 61 motorcyclists, or about 22%, also died. Overall, Florida had 364,539 crashes with 2,909 fatalities in 2025, meaning Miami-Dade accounted for roughly 15% of all crashes and 9% of the state’s fatalities.
According to the department’s crash dashboard, more than 4,000 crashes have been reported so far this year in Miami-Dade, including 16 fatalities. These numbers contribute to Miami’s reputation as one of the most dangerous places to navigate in the U.S., with studies indicating 5.4 accidents per 1,000 drivers and roughly 16 motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 residents.
Over the next 90 days, city staff are to develop the Vision Zero policy framework and present it to the commission for review and adoption, laying the foundation for a sustained effort to prevent fatal and serious crashes on Miami’s streets.