Lakeland to consider Vision Zero action plan and school-zone speed cameras

Lakeland City staff asked the commission to back a Vision Zero action plan and signaled they will seek separate approval later this year for school‑zone speed cameras and additional red‑light camera locations.

The plan, presented by Traffic Operations Manager Tess Schwartz, uses a “safe system” or Vision Zero approach — aligning engineering, enforcement, planning and emergency response to reduce deaths and serious injuries on city streets. Schwartz and staff cited local and state statistics, grant funding already awarded to corridor studies, and a 2023 Florida law that allows municipalities to deploy speed‑detection cameras in school zones.

Schwartz said Vision Zero treats human error as inevitable and focuses on managing speeds and kinetic energy to reduce crash severity. “Vision 0 started in Sweden in the nineties, and it spread throughout the world including to The United States,” Schwartz said. She told commissioners that Lakeland recorded 127 traffic fatalities over the past five years and that in 2024 the city saw 19 fatalities and 84 severe injuries.

City staff described three near‑term implementation priorities: (1) pursue Safe Streets for All planning and demonstration grants and related implementation funds; (2) advance two corridor studies awarded a state Streets for All grant for…