Action Alert: Tell City + Regional Leaders to Act Now on Charlotte’s Traffic Fatality Emergency
For years, Charlotte and North Carolina have had a goal: no more traffic-related deaths or serious injuries.
But the City’s newly released 2025 Vision Zero report makes it clear that we are badly off track.
81 of our neighbors — moms and dads, children and grandparents — lost their lives just trying to get somewhere in Charlotte last year.
And this was nearly 10% more lives lost and families left grieving than in 2024.
80% of those who were killed or seriously injured were traveling on just 13% of our streets, known as the High Injury Network.
And the majority of these deadly streets are in lower income neighborhoods and communities of color.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
We need your voice today to help reverse this horrific trend.
Will you take just a few minutes to email Charlotte City Council, senior city staff, and our regional transportation board (CRTPO) to urge immediate action?
We’ve made clear recommendations in our recent article, Reflecting on Charlotte’s 2025 Vision Zero Report and the Path Ahead for FY26.
What we’re asking leaders to do
1. Charlotte City Council: Act with urgency.
In addition to the policy and funding actions outlined in the blog post, City Council should direct CDOT to provide a plan within 30 days that identifies the most dangerous streets, near-term actions to improve them, accelerated timelines, and the resources needed to treat traffic safety as the public safety crisis it is.
2. CRTPO: Put safety first on state roads.
CRTPO is our regional transportation board and plays a critical role in deciding how transportation dollars are spent on state-maintained roads — where approximately half of Charlotte’s traffic fatalities have occurred. We’re calling on CRTPO to:
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Prioritize safety over speed in funding decisions
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Coordinate closely with CDOT to address this crisis
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Ensure the region’s Comprehensive Safety Action Plan includes clear deadlines for action and is focused on fixing the most dangerous roads first
Take action now
Please take a few minutes today — or as soon as you can — to send an email urging these leaders to act with the urgency this moment demands.
The email addresses for City Council, senior city staff, and our region’s transportation board members are included at the bottom of this message to make it easy.
We also provided a sample message, though we encourage you to make it your own. Speaking from your heart is always most compelling. And a sentence or two is more than enough.
What is important is that they hear from you now.
With bold leadership, coordinated action, and community pressure, we can accelerate change and save lives.
Thank you for standing up for safer streets.
In solidarity,
Shannon Binns
Founder
Sustain Charlotte
Sample Message:
Dear Charlotte City Council, City of Charlotte Staff, and CRTPO Board Members,
I’m writing to ask you to address the crisis of rising traffic deaths and serious injuries in Charlotte and the region.
I urge you to create an action plan within 30 days to address the disproportionately high rate of fatalities and serious injuries on the High Injury Network — including both city and state-owned roads.
I look forward to seeing your action on this, and will follow up as needed.
Your constituent,
[Your Name]