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The other day Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney signed a Vision Zero pledge, which aims to reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths. Politicians sign pledges all the time. So what’s the big deal about this one?

So far this year traffic crashes have killed 19 people in the city and injured many more. Reducing that toll — perhaps even eliminating it — is a worthy endeavor, and the Stoney administration says it will install high-visibility crosswalk signals at 238 major intersections around the city during the next year.

That will make a huge difference to many city residents who will never even realize it. Except for rare misses, people don’t make mental notes that they didn’t get hit by a car today.