Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment and Economy which gave details of road traffic collision and casualty numbers within the Borough in the year 2009 and recommended a continuance of road traffic collision reduction work.

 

            The Board was advised that Appendix A to the report set out full details of the numbers of traffic collisions and casualties in the year 2009, and compared these figures with those from previous years. These results were exceptionally good. The report also gave details of progress towards various national targets for casualty reductions and highlighted concerns regarding the resources available to continue this work at its present level in the future.

 

The Board was further advised of the following:-

 

·        There had been 291 road collisions involving personal injury in Halton, producing 415 casualties, both totals being the lowest in over 20 years;

 

·        39 of the casualties were classed as serious, and there were 2 deaths. The total of 41 serious injuries or deaths had been the lowest in over 20 years;

 

·        The child serious injury and fatality total of 4 represented a large, if probably unsustainable, reduction from the total of 11 in 2008;

 

·        The number of people of all ages being slightly injured fell from 435 in 2008  to just 374; and

 

·        The casualty numbers in the three key nationally set target areas remained well below the 2010 final target levels.

 

         It was reported that overall, the results confirmed the success of casualty reduction work, funded through Halton’s second Local Transport Plan and the Cheshire Safer Roads Partnership, supported by targeted enforcement and local road safety education, training, publicity and traffic management initiatives.

 

         In addition, although the 2009 total of just 4 casualties in the children killed or seriously injured category is an excellent and welcome result, as can be seen in Appendix 'A', there was considerable numeric volatility in this category and this yearly total was unlikely to be routinely repeated or bettered. However, a recent child safety audit and intensive accident data analysis work would be used to inform all future work in this area with the aim of producing consistently low casualty numbers in this category.

 

            All schools in Halton now had School Travel Plans in place, but because of the scheduled withdrawal of government grant support for this service at the end of the current financial year, these documents with their safety-based implementation plans were unlikely to be carried through without another funding source being identified.  Not having identified funding to continue the service had already had an impact as two members of staff had sought alternative employment because of the uncertainty of their future.

In conclusion, it was reported that at the sites now being treated, collision patterns were extremely hard to establish and greater reliance had to be placed on Police advice and consultation to achieve further accident reductions. This approach was being successfully combined with a greater emphasis on road safety, education, training & publicity. However, the effectiveness of any casualty reduction approach could only be assessed over 3 and preferably 5 years to ensure that trends were firmly established and firm conclusions could be drawn.

 

         It was noted that sixty people were employed as part of the Cheshire Safer Roads Partnership, two thirds of which were police officers.  This represented a significant cost to the police force and consideration was being given to whether there would be a Partnership in the future if new funding was not identified.

 

         It was also noted that more people were alive today because of the measures that the Authority had put in place and if new funding was not identified the successes to date would be reduced and more people in the Borough would be at risk.

 

         Arising from the discussion, clarity was sought on the revenue Cheshire Safer Road Partnership collected from fines.  It was reported that a response would be sought and circulated to all Members of the Board.

 

         The comments raised by a Member of the Board regarding the success of the reduction in Halton’s road accidents, the loss of funding for accident reduction and future funding and the impact on national targets was circulated at the meeting and noted. 

 

         RESOLVED: That

 

(1)                     the overall progress made on casualty reduction in Halton and comments made be noted;

 

(2)                     an ongoing programme of road traffic collision reduction schemes and road safety education, training and publicity be endorsed subject to resource availability;

 

(3)                     concerns with regard to the achievement of further casualty prevention, as a result of resource reductions be noted; and

 

(4)                     the Board congratulated everyone concerned in the success in reducing Halton’s road accidents to date.