Welsh Government announces road safety consultation

Date: 25/9/2012

A consultation has been announced by the Welsh Government in order to look at the viability of a 'vision zero' Road Safety Development plan.

The plan is designed to set out how the government will approach the matter of road safety up to 2020 and will include specific targets for young people and motorcyclists.

These two groups of road users are considered to be the most vulnerable and therefore require special attention under new plans.

The number of motorcyclists killed on Wales' roads is hugely disproportionate to the number that there are in total.

Last year one per cent of the road traffic and 39 per cent of those killed or seriously injured in Wales was made up of motorcyclists.

Whilst at the same time 11 per cent of drivers were young people, but 23 per cent of casualties were also those of a younger generation.

Carl Sargeant, Minister with Responsibility for Transport, said: "We can all take pride in the fact that Welsh roads are amongst the safest in the world.

"However, we must avoid complacency and recognise that there is significant scope for further improvements."

The plan aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured by 40 per cent by the year 2020.

It also aspires to cut motorcyclist deaths and injuries by 25 per cent by the same year and cut the number of young people killed and injured by 40 per cent.

This will be achieved through a number of methods, including education, engineering and enforcement.

Mr Sargeant said: "We view this ambitious 'vision zero' approach as an acknowledgement of our commitment and want all key partners to share in and work towards making it a reality.

"The 'vision zero' approach represents a bold approach by the Welsh Government towards road safety that was originally introduced by Sweden."

Consultation on the plan will end in December with the results published early in the new year.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

Transport Research News and Vehicle Safety News