8.3 Future Plans

8.3.1 The new partnership arrangements within Greater Manchester are very much in line with the recommendations included in the Audit Commission Report ‘Changing Lanes – Evolving roles in road safety’. The recommendations within that document will underpin the future work of the GM Casualty Reduction Partnership to ensure that road casualties in Greater Manchester are reduced by the greatest possible extent.

8.3.2  To maximise reductions in casualties we will continue to be data led and focus on areas where the casualty savings will be greatest. GMTU will continue to collate and monitor casualty trends to identify these groups. Recent analysis shows that we need to focus on groups such as middle-aged male drivers and pedestrians.

8.3.3 Further work is required to provide background information to support work with partner organisations on how the nature of road traffic collisions and casualties can vary for different areas and levels of deprivation.  The partnership will coordinate research by GMTU and others, such as behavioural psychologists, to look at the various factors that influence road traffic collisions, and to determine effective interventions, which will change attitudes and bring about corrective behaviour.

8.3.4 Knowing what and where the problems are is not enough. The central road safety team will closely monitor and evaluate the outputs and outcomes of the various approaches and interventions to see if they achieve the desired results, which will in turn lead to the identification of best practice.

8.3.5 Through the GMGRSO and GMRAPG exchange of information and best practice will continue and showcase successful projects involving partner organisations and where necessary training days will be provided.

8.3.6 The partnership will encourage community based road safety projects which empower and engage young people, and continue the close working relationship with Children and Young People Services, Connexions, Sure Start, because it is recognised that road safety is a significant contributor to the socio-economic well-being of children and young people.  However, we will also engage with new partners to ensure that newly identified groups, such as middle aged males, are also targeted for behavioural change.

8.3.7 The casualty reduction partnership will support Local Strategic Partnership Managers, Road Safety Officers and other key strategic partners to encourage the participation of local people to use their ideas and local knowledge to engage in actions and activities to contribute to a safer and better quality of life for the local communities.  The partnership will also encourage local authorities to recognise that road safety is a social issue and has close links with deprivation, crime and antisocial behaviour.  It will also ensure that road safety is incorporated into its Community Safety strategy and is an integral component within the Crime Reduction Strategy and the Strategic Assessment.

8.3.8 Included as part of the Government's approach to Integrated Transport, outlined in the document ‘New Directions in Speed Management – a review of Policy’ is the requirement to carry out a review of speed limits and to develop a speed management strategy.  Such a review is now underway in Greater Manchester.  Recommendations in the review are fully supported by the Greater Manchester authorities and many have already been implemented, including:

  • Driver education regarding speed limits
  • Vehicle speed activated signs at hazards
  • Additional signing for speed cameras
  • Increased use of self enforcing 20mph zones for road safety and urban regeneration
  • 20mph outside schools
  • Safer routes to school schemes
  • Physical traffic calming measures in residential areas
  • Speed cameras at appropriate locations

8.3.9 Road casualties do not stop at our borders. Many of our residents are involved in collisions in adjacent council areas and many of their residents become casualties in Greater Manchester. We will therefore work closely with our neighbours to reduce road casualties both across boundaries and at a regional level.