Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster is calling on residents to help make the region’s roads safer by taking part in a public consultation into the updated Regional Road Safety Action Plan.
Building on the Refreshed Regional Road Safety Strategy, launched last year, the action plan will set out how the PCC, who is also Chair of the West Midlands Road Safety Strategic Group, can help create a safer environment for all road users.
This action plan, open for public consultation until May 10th, aims to deliver the region’s ambitions to halve the number of road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 by adopting the Safe System approach.
It will focus on five key areas:
- Safe speeds: Tackling excessive speed through targeted enforcement and infrastructure changes.
- Safe vehicles: Promoting safer vehicles and aiming to remove dangerous ones from the road.
- Safe roads and roadsides: Designing safer roads and prioritising vulnerable users like motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
- Safe road use: Encouraging responsible driving and tackling dangerous behaviours.
- Post-crash care: Ensuring swift emergency response and comprehensive support for victims of road traffic crashes.
Following the consultation Transport for West Midlands will work with partners to finalise the action plan for adoption later this year. The plan will also line up with the region’s Local Transport Plan and Refreshed Regional Road Safety Strategy 2023-2030.
Each year around 950 people suffer from serious, sometimes life-changing injuries because of road collisions in the region. New data suggests males aged 20-29 are at higher risk of death or serious injury with excessive speed being the biggest factor contributing to these collisions.
West Midlands Police and Crime and Commissioner and Chair of the Road Safety Strategic Group, Simon Foster, said: “Preventing, tackling and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and the number of people tragically and avoidably killed and seriously injured on our roads is a top priority, because of the catastrophic consequences for victims and families.
“The Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2030 needs to reflect the collaborative action that we all need to take, if we are to create a safe and secure road network, that delivers on our collective aim to halve the number of road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. That is why, I am encouraging everyone to contribute to the consultation.
“Action I am taking, together with West Midlands Police includes, supporting increased enforcement by average speed cameras; police operations to prevent dangerous, drink and drug driving; investing in mobile speed camera vans; speed guns for community speed watch; and improved third party dash cam reporting.
“Our commitment to a safe and secure road network must be absolute, unconditional and non-negotiable.”
Residents can share their experiences, concerns, and suggested solutions through an online survey or by post to 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD.
For any questions related to the consultation please email roadsafety@tfwm.org.uk or call 0345 303 6760.
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