Transportation Safety

Vision Zero is the Boulder community's goal to reduce the number of traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries to zero. At its core, this goal is inspired by the belief that traffic collisions are preventable, and even one fatality is too many. Learn more about the city's efforts to make safer streets and what you can do to help us reach our goal.

The  2016 Safe Streets Boulder report provides an overview of the city’s transportation safety efforts.

The report also provides the framework for the city's Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries resulting from traffic collisions. 

The purpose of the NSMP is to slow speeding traffic on residential streets. The program includes educational tools like yard signs, speed trailers, and radar gun rental; enforcement activities; and engineering treatments such as speed humps, traffic circles, and other traffic-calming devices.

Visit the NSMP webpage to learn more about the program, including how to register. You can also contact Transportation Planner Ryan Noles at 720-564-2396 or [email protected] .

To request police enforcement of a speeding problem on a major road, please contact the Traffic Unit of the Boulder Police Department at 303-441-3333.

If you are concerned about speeding in a residential area, please review the Neighborhood Speed Management Program (NSMP) or contact Transportation Planner Ryan Noles at 720-564-2396 or  [email protected] .

If you are concerned about a safety issue other than speeding, please contact Transportation Operations Engineer Mike Sweeney at 303-441-3162 or  [email protected] .

Have you had a close call with a bicycle, pedestrian or motorist? Tell us about it by submitting  on Inquire Boulder. 

One of the goals of the city's Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is to supports walking as a primary mode of travel, as it supports all other modes. To achieve this goal, the city implements to help improve the safety of crosswalks.

The city is also running the Heads Up Boulder crosswalk safety campaign with education and enforcement weeks in July, August and September 2018. 

The city has installed photo radar and photo red lights in some high-traffic neighborhoods and intersections to help enforce safe driving behaviors.

The Safe Routes to School program aims to address barriers that prevent students from walking and biking to school. The program is supported by federal funding distributed by the Colorado Department of Transportation. 

The city has a number of programs in place to support safe travel during a snow or ice event, such as snow removal and plowing and severe weather shelters. Learn more about these initiatives as well as tips for safe travel during snowstorms on the Snow and Ice Control webpage. 

The City of Boulder's traffic system is designed to be as efficient as possible while providing safe travel for all transportation options. Learn more about the system on the Traffic Signals webpage.