The Vision Zero concept is a global road safety initiative with a lofty goal: to eliminate traffic accidents and related injuries. While this requires collaboration from various stakeholders, commercial vehicles play a critical role in shaping the safety landscape.  If your city has implemented Vision Zero programs, take a look at RIZON to see how it contributes to roadway safety.

A Vision Zero Concept Includes Safer Commercial Vehicles

In a Vision Zero community, safe commercial vehicles are paramount. However, commercial vehicles are significantly heavier and larger than passenger vehicles and pose different challenges in the event of a traffic collision.

Fortunately, advancements in commercial vehicle features are making great strides toward contributing to the Vision Zero initiative. For our part, RIZON trucks incorporate commercial-grade advanced active and passive safety systems.

Here are the features that make RIZON trucks well-suited for contributing to Vision Zero.

Active Side Assist (ASA)

ASA continuously monitors the passenger side for vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, and other obstacles.  If a driver overlooks warning signals at speeds under 12 mph and the vehicle detects an obstacle, automatic braking maneuvers begin and bring the truck to a complete stop.

Active Brake Assist (ABA)

ABA is a truck’s way of always thinking ahead. Designed to mitigate potential collisions, ABA monitors the road and automatically calculates the truck’s distance from vehicles ahead to determine if a warning or braking action is needed. ABA can apply full and partial braking on moving vehicles, stationary objects, and moving pedestrians crossing the roadway.

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

This system enhances safe operation and road awareness by utilizing a camera to detect painted lines on the road and monitoring if the RIZON vehicle unintentionally drifts into another lane. It then prompts the driver to readjust.

Low Cab-over-engine (LCOE)

Due to RIZON’s cab-over-engine design, our trucks have a tighter turning radius than conventional trucks, giving them superior maneuverability on tight city streets allowing drivers to park with greater ease.

Furthermore, LCOE puts the driver in a position for optimal visibility giving them a view of both sides of the vehicle.

Anti-lock Braking (ABS)

ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution contribute to better traction and overall stability of the truck for enhanced safety.

Electronic Park Lock (EPL)

EPL prevents rollaways with the automatic park lock, which sets the parking brake and locks the gearbox with the push of a button.

Reverse View Camera System

Standard camera and monitor systems let the driver see behind the truck, which can reduce backing accidents.  The monitor can always be on giving the driver a constant rear view, just like that of a personal vehicle.  This gives drivers better situational awareness to make them more confident on the road.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

This feature supports the driver in nearly all critical driving situations by detecting vehicle skidding movements and actively counteracts to prevent rollover.

A Closer Look at Vision Zero

Vision Zero is a road safety concept originating in Sweden in 1997 and has since gained international recognition. It centers on the belief that no loss of life on the road is acceptable and aims to create a transportation system with zero serious injuries.

Communities that have adopted the program focus on road safety strategies including road designs, speed limits and safe speeds, safe mobility, and road users with a variety of stakeholders for an inclusive safe system approach.

The program has since gained momentum in America and spread to more than 45 communities. The main premise of Vision Zero is that humans are fallible, and road systems should be designed to minimize the potential for human errors that result in accidents.

Communities must meet several minimal criteria to be considered a Vision Zero Community.

1. Set a clear goal of eliminating traffic accidents
2. A city’s mayoral officially commits to the Vision Zero program publicly
3. A commitment to implement strategies to achieve the above goals in a clear time frame
4. City departments, which include transportation, public health, and the mayor’s office, lead all efforts

The Vision Zero Network describes the program as neither a slogan nor a tagline, but rather “a fundamentally different way to approach traffic safety.”

It aims to bring a multidisciplinary approach to confront the issue by bringing various stakeholders together, including local traffic planners, public health professionals, community members, and policymakers.

While Vision Zero requires concerted efforts from all involved, commercial vehicles have a significant role to play in achieving this ambitious goal.

The integration of advanced safety features, such as ABA, ASA, LDW, improved visibility and maneuverability, etc., is transforming the commercial vehicle landscape.

Learn more about how integrating RIZON vehicles into your fleets can work toward achieving Vision Zero safety goals.