Traffic Safety
Traffic Safety
Preventing severe crashes on our City's streets. Data analysis and policy research help CDOT address traffic safety concerns centered around the following issues:
Vehicle Speed & Size
68% of Chicago traffic deaths involved drivers traveling at high speeds. Nearly half of pedestrians killed in the city are hit by an SUV or larger vehicle.
Reckless Driving
84% of traffic deaths in Chicago involve reckless behavior by people behind the wheel.
Persistent Inequities
Chicagoans who face the greatest barriers to health, income, and personal safety are also the most likely to die in traffic crashes.
How CDOT Uses Data
Data analysis highlights areas across the City in need of safety upgrades.
Studying crash data reveals specific concerns within any project area and inspires safe design solutions.
Gathering field data and conducting observations to evaluate project impacts.
Traffic Safety Data Resources
CDOT tracks fatal traffic crashes and safety issues across the City. Monthly fatal traffic crash reports and the datasets used by CDOT can be accessed on our Data Resources page.
Featured Project
Left Turn Traffic Calming
Left Turn Traffic Calming (LTTC) encourages safer turning behaviors from drivers and boosts pedestrian safety at intersections.
Publications
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Chicago Traffic Crashes Annual Report - Fall 2024 - A document summarizing the previous year's traffic safety analysis and CDOT's investment strategy around safety.
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Vision Zero Chicago Action Plan - A guiding document identifying the City’s priorities and resources for traffic safety initiatives.
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CDOT Strategic Plan - Aligning our streets not just with our efforts to maintain roads and keep people moving, but with our values and an abiding commitment to justice for all Chicagoans.
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High Crash Corridors Framework Plan - Guidance for CDOT to implement effective and feasible safety improvement projects on each of the corridors moving forward.
Other Traffic Safety Programs
SAFE Ambassadors
The outreach and engagement team within CDOT that conducts direct outreach and education at hundreds of public events each year, providing free learn-to-ride lessons for adults and children, teaching safe mobility skills at elementary schools, and in high school driver education modules.
Streetscapes Program
CDOT's program to create flourishing public places while improving the functionality of infrastructure to support dense urban living.
Boulevard Enhancement Program
Providing infrastructure improvements and enhancements that will draw people outside to an environment that is safe and inviting and to provide a system of trails connecting people to the neighborhood and the city beyond.
Automated Safety Enforcement
Red Light Camera Enforcement and Automated Speed Enforcement play an important part in the City’s ongoing efforts to improve road safety for everyone in Chicago.