Residents are being urged to have their say on a new strategy which aims to prevent deaths and injuries on Somerset’s roads.
The consultation is launched as it is revealed that 22 people were killed in 20 fatal collisions on the county’s roads in 2017. This is the lowest number of fatal collisions ever recorded in Somerset and a decrease by three fatal casualties from the 2016 figure of 25.
Somerset County Council is seeking the public’s views on a new draft road safety strategy called Safe Roads in Somerset. This details how it plans to use a Safe Systems approach to deliver its ambitious vision that no road user should be killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads.
Cllr John Woodman, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Road Safety, said “Whilst it is pleasing to see the number of people killed on Somerset roads decreasing, even one death is one too many.
“This is why we are consulting on our new road safety strategy. We want to take positive action and continue to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on Somerset roads.
“Every road user can play a part in improving road safety and we look forward to receiving feedback on our plans.”
Almost all road deaths and injuries are preventable. However, for a continued decline in road traffic collisions and serious injury there needs to be a shift in the way that road safety is delivered in local areas.
In a Safe System there is a shared responsibility for preventing injury, between road users, enforcers and those who design, build and manage roads or vehicles.
Of the 22 deaths last year, further analysis shows that 60% involved cars, 19% motorcycles, 5% pedestrians, 11% HGVs and 5% agricultural vehicles. Of the casualties, 68% were drivers, 23% passengers and 9% pedestrians. This shows that all road users can play a part in improving safety on our roads.
The full draft strategy (which explains the Safe System approach) and a consultation summary document are both available on Somerset County Council’s consultation website: http://www.somersetconsults.org.uk/consult.ti/RoadSafety/consultationHome.
Please be sure to have your say before the consultation closes on 8 March 2018.
For more information on road safety in Somerset please visit www.somersetroadsafety.org/.
Road deaths year by year
2013: 28 collisions, 28 casualties
2014: 32 collisions, 33 casualties
2015: 22 collisions, 22 casualties
2016: 23 collisions, 25 casualties
2017: 20 collisions, 22 casualties
Please Wait...