Calderdale Council is highlighting the importance of road safety, with a commitment to prioritise work to reduce road deaths and injuries on Calderdale roads.
The Council recognises the urgent need to prioritise road safety across the borough and the wider West Yorkshire region. Sadly, there were 478 people injured on Calderdale roads in the last year, with 149 of those people killed or seriously injured.
This is higher than in previous years, with the number of children being injured also increasing. Casualties across the West Yorkshire region are also higher than the national average.
At the meeting of full Council, members endorsed a commitment to road safety, supporting the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Strategy – a regional plan to eradicate all road deaths and serious injuries across West Yorkshire by 2040.
At the strategy’s heart is the message that everyone has a responsibility to keep people safe on our roads, and we must all work together to create the lasting change needed.
The Council supports the strategy and its ambitions to deliver a safe, sustainable road environment, supporting active travel ambitions and improving access for all road users.
Work will continue to raise the profile of road safety, working with organisations like schools and community groups. A vital part of this will include promoting a change of mindset around road safety, not accepting that accidents are just a part of being on the roads and acknowledging that we all have a part to play in reducing collisions and casualties.
Partnership work is also key, with the Calderdale Safety Partnership funding targeted enforcement work to tackle dangerous driving.
The Council will also campaign for national legislation, urging the new government to produce an updated National Road Safety Strategy.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Cllr Tim Swift, said:
“We all want safer roads and as a Council we take our responsibility to prevent people being injured on our roads incredibly seriously. We’re proud to be part of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero partnership, helping to deliver this important regional plan to eradicate all road deaths and serious injuries across West Yorkshire by 2040.
“We recognise that collisions on roads have multiple causes, but what they have in common is the potential for incredibly serious consequences. One life lost on our roads is one too many and we’re highlighting the many ways that we can all make our roads safer. This includes work to change individual attitudes, targeted enforcement, and increased education – particularly for younger or more inexperienced drivers.
“We also recognise the important role of traffic management and engineering in reducing road deaths and injuries. I’m proud that we were one of the first authorities to introduce 20mph speed limits in all residential areas of the borough and we want to continue to do all we can to support safer communities.
“Reducing road danger helps to create places where people feel more able to choose alternative travel modes, whilst promoting active travel ambitions.”
The West Yorkshire Vision Zero partnership consists of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority; the five local authorities, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield; West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, National Highways, victim support services, and road safety campaigners.
To find out more about Vision Zero, and sign the pledge to make a commitment to bring about change, visit www.visionzerowy.co.uk(external link)