DURHAM, N.C. — The Bull City recently hired Lauren Grove as its Vision Zero coordinator. Vision Zero is a national safety initiative aimed at ending serious injury or death on the roadways. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Lauren Grove is the recently hired Vision Zero coordinator in Durham 

  •  Raleigh is the only other North Carolina city with a Vision Zero coordinator role filled 

  •  Vision Zero is a national initiative aimed at reducing serious injury or death on the roadways

  • Grove says this is a public health issue

Grove’s background is in neuro-science research, working with low-income women in Detroit who often didn’t have a vehicle.

She looks at transportation safety through a public health lens. 

“Cities should be able to provide that opportunity to access medical appointments, go to grocery stores,” Grove said.

Grove is one of only two Vision Zero coordinators currently in the state. 

Raleigh also has a designated role, while Chapel Hill has a job opening for the position.

Charlotte, Greensboro and Apex all have traffic safety engineers who work on Vision Zero projects. 

“If we locate transportation next to affordable housing so people don't have to rely on driving everywhere, they can, in theory, walk out the door, wait at the transit stop and get to where they're going via transit,” Grove explained. “There are over 40,000 people in the U.S. dying every year, and there are people dying in our cities and towns every year, and it's all preventable. So, we really need to be focusing on the fact that, one, it is a public health crisis, and it's important to recognize that.”

Grove says she is excited to be part of this growing work that more and more municipalities in the state are investing in. 

“We have to consider all of the people that move through this area, walking, biking, taking the bus, and that needs to be integral to a successful vision. Vision Zero policy is saying we are strongly committing to safety over congestion,” Grove said.