Issue - meetings

            The Board received a report on the latest road safety statistics released by the Department for Transport through the publication of the 2021 Comprehensive Annual Report. 

The report set out full details of the numbers of traffic collisions and casualties in 2021 and compared these figures with those from previous years.  Of those killed or seriously injured, the number of adult and child casualties decreased by 2 (total decrease of 4). However, due to the low numbers recorded annually in Halton, this number did fluctuate from year to year.

Halton had achieved its performance targets as set by the Department of Transport and was one of the few Local Authorities to report a fall in both collisions and casualties, against a national picture where road casualties (all categories) increased by 11% in 2021.

In addition, the report highlighted the work the Road Safety Team had undertaken in 2021/22 and the programme for 2022/23 which would continue to cover road traffic reduction schemes, road safety education, training and publicity as well as engaging with Cheshire Police to target effective enforcement action.

Members also considered information on the following road safety initiatives: 

·         Community Speed Watch;

·         “Smiley” Speed Indicative Device/Sign (SiDs);

·         Speed Camera A562;

·         Gyratory Red Light Camera;

·         Mobile Speed Camera Sites;

·         Collision Sites;

·         Safer Active Travel;

·         Education; and

·         Halton 2023/24 Programme.

Arising from the discussion, a Member asked if a timeline could be confirmed for the installation of the gyratory red light camera on the A557 Watkinson Way.   It was agreed that this would be looked into.

            RESOLVED: That

1)    the overall progress made on casualty reduction in Halton over the past decade be noted; and

2)    the 2023/24 programme of road safety schemes and road safety education, training and publicity be endorsed.

The Board expressed their appreciation to the Road Safety Team on their work.