Arlington County, Virginia, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, with support from the FIA Foundation.

The award recognises the County's innovative commitment, passionate leadership, and creative collaborations to enhance safety for Arlington's youngest walkers and bicyclists. "Arlington's work to prioritize safe walking and biking for youth exemplifies Vision Zero for Youth leadership", said Nancy Pullen-Seufert, Director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School, UNC Highway Safety Research Center. "In all aspects of this work, the County demonstrates a commitment to assessment, improvement, and action for safer streets conducive to active travel. We are honored to recognize Arlington's efforts and accomplishments and hope their work will be emulated in other communities across the country and beyond."

Arlington County prioritises safety through comprehensive traffic calming strategies, including full time 20 mph slow zones near schools, accessible school zone retrofits, and school zone speed cameras. The county uses data to prioritise areas for equity emphasis, safety improvements, accessible quick-build and pilot projects which include youth in the Vision Zero planning. Additionally, the County's active and inclusive engagement to gain input from community members was noted as a significant factor in their success.

Student road safety club leaders opened the event, displaying their personal commitment and involvement in ensuring safety. They were followed by David Priddy, Interim School Board Chair, Arlington Public Schools, who said: "This prestigious accolade is a testament to our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students who walk and bike to school. I am proud of our commitment and collaboration to eliminate severe injuries and fatalities among our children and adolescents. I want to thank Arlington County for its continued partnership."

"We are committed to ensuring students and children are safe while travelling to school and around the County," said Libby Garvey, Chair of Arlington County Board. "Through these novel strategies and safety improvements, we continue our efforts to eliminate severe and fatal crashes and make Arlington a safer and more accessible community for everyone, including our youngest residents."

“Alongside international Vision Zero for Youth Award recipients, Arlington is part of a network of global cities around the world committed to safety around schools. Together, they are making strides towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals to halve deaths and injuries on roads by 2030”, said Natalie Draisin, Director of the North America Office & United Nations Representative.

Key practices from prior Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award winners are available in the new resource 'Nine Strategies Cities Use to Support Safe, Active Travel for Children and Youth.' The U.S. Vision Zero for Youth Leadership Award, now in its seventh year, recognizes cities that are leading the way in prioritizing child pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Past recipients include Lincoln, Nebraska; Los Angeles, California; New York, New York; and Fremont, California. The U.S. Award program is informed by an advisory committee comprised of international road safety organizations, including ITE, NACTO, Safe Kids, FHWA, Safe Routes Partnership, FIA Foundation, Atlanta DOT, COMTO, NHTSA and others.