PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 10, 2022
When someone is killed in a car crash, we usually find someone to blame, a driver or maybe a pedestrian (or cyclist or skateboarder) who didn’t look both ways. Last year, there were 150 deaths and 678 suspected serious injuries on Maine roads from traffic crashes. This year we’ve already had 147 deaths and 600 serious injuries, and crashes tend to spike toward the end of the year. What if we instead took a hard look at our transportation policies and infrastructure? The Greater Portland Council of Governments is creating a Vision Zero Action Plan to work toward a goal of zero deaths and zero serious injuries from traffic crashes. The plan will identify strategies for reducing crashes, such as education and changes to road design. In November, we’ll be holding a series of community workshops so we can get your input. ~ Belinda Ray, Greater Portland Council of Governments