West Hartford Council To Take Action On Traffic Deaths

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A community that, last month, saw five people lose their lives on local roads is preparing to commit to a movement that aims to have none.

The West Hartford Town Council is meeting Tuesday night, Jan. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at West Hartford Town Hall to discuss and, likely, commit to participating in the "Vision Zero Initiative."

Commitment to the endeavor will come in the form of a resolution and, if approved, it would be one step the town can take in its quest to cut down, if not stop, the severe traffic accidents that have killed and injured people in recent years.

Wednesday, the council's public safety subcommittee addressed the situation, which will now be taken up by the full council early next week.

The Vision Zero Initiative is a worldwide pledge to promote and execute good safety practices on roadways and sidewalks.

When a city or town like West Hartford opts to become a "Vision Zero" community, it is saying it wants to eliminate the types of severe crashes and pedestrian accidents that have impacted life in town.

The movement urges better facilities regarding pedestrian and motorist transportation initiatives, such as clear crosswalk markings and/or reduced and enforced speed limits, etc.

At the same it, it also encourages broad educational initiatives aimed at promoting traffic and pedestrian safety, providing the public constant reminders of how to stay safe while moving about.

West Hartford, in recent weeks, has been a major trouble spot regarding motorist and pedestrian safety, with five people killed on local roads in the days leading up to and including Christmas Day.

Those fatal incidents included:

• A Dec. 20 vehicle-versus-pedestrian incident at the intersection of Boulevard and Whiting Lane that killed an 89-year-old pedestrian.

• A Dec. 21 vehicle-versus-pedestrian incident on Mohegan Drive claimed the life of a 60-year-old pedestrian.

• A brutal Christmas Day head-on collision involving two vehicles on Simsbury Road that killed two Hartford residents in their 50s, as well as a 17-year-old Hartford teen.

The five deaths in a few short days late last month prompted town officials to announce the creation of a task force to study traffic safety issues, as well as this "Vision Zero" initiative.

From Dec. 25: 'WHPD: Three Hartford Residents Were West Hartford Crash Victims'

For the agenda of the Jan. 10 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For more information on the "Vision Zero Initiative," click on this link.