8 Safer Roads

Summary

We have achieved:

  • Reductions in Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI’s) on Greater Manchester roads by 23% on the 1994-98 average.  This is below our set target but an improvement.
  • Reductions on Child KSI’s by 44% over the same time period.
  • Reductions in slight injuries by 37% over the same time period.
  • A reduction in accidents by 48% at safety camera locations from 2000-03 to 2005-07.
  • These results were achieved despite the fact that, at the start of LTP2 in 2006, Greater Manchester had the lowest KSI casualty rate per head of population when compared to any of the former metropolitan counties or shire counties, making it more difficult to achieve reductions from an already low level.

Through the following actions:

  • Implementation of local safety schemes in each District, targeted at locations suffering from higher than average casualties.
  • A number of road safety campaigns, including measures to reduce the disproportionate number of accidents involving young drivers and passengers.
  • Referred 100 clients per month to the Driver Improvement Course, and  3,400 per month to the speed awareness course.
  • Established a joint road safety team to take the lead on casualty reduction and to co-ordinate countywide and partnership working.  A Partnership has been set up oversee this team.
  • The incorporation of road safety elements in school travel plans

Our issues and future priorities:

  • It is necessary to maintain our data-led approach to tackling road safety, and in particular KSI casualties where we are failing to meet our target. We need to continue to target particular groups and areas with high accident levels.
  • To ensure that road safety and security contribute fully to addressing the social wellbeing issues set out in Authorities' Sustainable Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements.
  • To meet Government requirements to review speed limits and develop a speed management strategy.

And to achieve these we will:

  • Continue our data led approach and focus on where casualty reductions will be the greatest. We will address KSI casualties occurring on main roads, following success in deprived areas, specifically by aiming to reduce the number of fatal accidents that are caused by illegal behaviour, especially by those aged under 25.
  • Continue to introduce engineering measures at targeted locations where they represent good value for money.
  • Increase enforcement (aimed at illegal behaviour and poor driving skills, education, training and publicity)
  • Complete the speed limit review and speed management strategy
  • Continue to improve security on public transport and at interchanges.