Agenda item

The Committee considered an update report which confirmed reported road casualty statistics up to the end of 2021, Leicestershire’s approach to road casualty reduction and Leicestershire Police’s approach to Road Safety.

Mr Graham Compton, Senior Traffic Management Officer at Leicestershire Police, was in attendance to present the information at Appendix A to the report.

Arising from discussion, the following points were noted:

i.         The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership Board was set up in the Mid-1990s because of a high level of casualties. A lot of work had been undertaken and the number of yearly casualties reduced but had now plateaued.

ii.         During the Christmas campaign there had been over 170 drink / drug driving arrests, which was the highest figure recorded by Leicestershire Police, and was an issue across the whole of the United Kingdom.

iii.         There was an increase in the number of abnormally large loads movements.

iv.         With the support of the Council, 20 Community Speed Watch schemes would go ahead.

v.         With regard to the recent changes to the Highway Code given priority to pedestrians over vehicles, it was noted that accident figures were reported in arrears, and the changes had not yet been evidenced It was further noted that the Partnership had been very supportive of the changes and the hierarchy involved.

vi.         There were changes to the drop in casualty figures in 2017, due to a change in reporting information and changed approach for comparison.

vii.         When overlaying data sets rather than in isolation, it relied in part on communication with different teams to link together patterns, such as, enquiries, lamp post knockdowns, highways intervention over accident and casualty injuries.

viii.         With regards whether the public walking and cycling were safer on a shared route or separate routes, it was reported the Government would be issuing guidance for vulnerable road users, pedestrians and cyclists using shared spaces. Further guidance was also expected for more rural and market town areas.

The Lead Members for Highways and Transport thanked the Road Safety Partnership and officers and gave assurance that road safety was a priority for the Council.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the change of medium and long-term road safety targets as set out in paragraph 61 of the report be noted; and

b)    The minimum threshold for Rural Route Initiative Intervention as set out in paragraph 92 of the report be noted.