Agenda item

To recevie the report of the Team Leader, Safe and Sustainable Travel, providing the Outer North East Community Committee with an understanding of the recently adopted Vision Zero Strategy and its action plan and to gather input from elected members and residents.

The Community Committee were provided with an overview of the adopted Vision Zero Strategy and its action plan and to gather input from elected members and residents.

The Team Leader Safe & Sustainable Travel and Transport Planner (Road Safety) introduced the report and provided Members with a presentation to highlight the current road safety situation within the three wards, the new approach to road safety, building on past offers by the service and to open a dialogue as to what the road safety team can do to mitigate road accidents.

The following information was highlighted:

• The Vision Zero strategy was adopted by the Council in October 2022, putting in place, measures to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, whilst increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all by 2040.
• Between 2017 and 2021 there were 7,106 traffic collisions, 93 fatalities, 2,017 serious injuries and 7,034 slight injuries recorded on highways in Leeds.
• Road traffic accident figures were decreasing until around 2013, however since then, and even more so during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, road incident figures had risen.
• The strategy and action plan were developed to stop the trend of increasing road traffic incidents and imbedding the notion that no loss of life on is acceptable.
• Figures specific to the Outer North East area from 2017 to 2021 were outlined as 500 collisions, 13 fatalities, 134 serious injuries and 572 slight injuries.
• The vision will reject traditional road safety data and targets and change the language surrounding the topic to understand difficulties in compelling people to behave properly when using roads to reduce harm and fatalities for vehicle passengers and pedestrians.
• The safe systems approach aims to prevent mistakes but also mitigate the potential for disastrous events when driver error occurs as reducing mistakes on the road to zero was noted to be unrealistic, so measures strive to improve overall road safety.
• Everyone can take responsibility in delivering the vision by following the Highway Code. The Council models for delivery were noted as, road design, traffic management and strategy, public health, education and leading by example through the fleet services and taxi and private hire licensing.
• The Council had engaged with West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services, National Highways, Ambulance Services, and road safety charities as Safe Road Partners.
• Council and Police operations working to deliver the strategy were noted as, SPARC (Supporting Partnership Action to Reduce Road Casualties), SNAP (Safer Roads Digital Submissions Portal) and Safety Camera Partnership. Behaviour change campaigns, targeted communications, education, funding bids and data reported were outlined as direct, positive, public facing activity.
• Safe system pillars of action were noted as, safe speeds, safe roads, safe vehicles, safe behaviours and people and post-collision learning and care, which feed into overarching strategic objectives and then a tangible delivery plan.
• The ‘fatal five’ are the leading causes for collisions on the road which are, speeding, distractions, the influence of drink or drugs, seatbelt non-compliance and careless driving.
• The changes in language surrounding collisions on highways, for example, reference to drivers not vehicles and focusing on victims, are to personalise the incident, not to allow it to become another statistic.
• The updates to the highway code in 2022 created a hierarchy of road users, in terms of vulnerability to injury, noting drivers are most likely to cause harm.
• In February 2023 West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership published a revision to speed camera criteria with greater flexibility for new camera provision with no new pre-warning signage of upcoming speed cameras to be installed.
• Infrastructure changes to mitigate road incident risk in Leeds will be revised speed limits, more designated cycle lanes and improved pedestrian crossings and safety measures.
• Speed Indication Devices (SIDs) will become more widely available with both mobile and fixed lamppost devices to target areas in need of monitoring. Road safety collision data will be analysed to identify current and emerging areas of concern.
• Cross Council department work will aim to influence road safety decisions where appropriate to adopt the vision.
• Ongoing awareness and education initiatives, delivered through or involving Highways and Transportation, were noted as Project EDWARD (Every Day Without A Road Death), Tyre Safety Month, Brake Road Safety Week and travel planning support for important institutions and infrastructure around the City.
• School based road safety training includes, pedestrian, scooter and cycling courses. City wide, targeted communications and education are also being implemented.
• Members were advised how they can promote the vision and strategy through sharing information on the highway code, Operation SNAP and using their reach and social media platforms to communities.

The Committee discussed the following:

• Members outlined concerns regarding the robustness of the proposed measures to achieve zero deaths by 2040 if the strategy for intervention and installation of road safety infrastructure is to remain data driven. The aims of the strategy are ambitious and although 2040 may seem a long timeframe, immediate progress is needed.
• In response to a question, it was outlined that identifying areas for concern is largely conducted through the Traffic Management and Collision Studies team, where serious accidents are mapped which feed into traffic management plans.
• From experience, Members noted issues with real, practical influence for roads to be safer. A request was made for a review of safety measure mechanisms without the requirement of evidence of serious incidents. Officers encouraged the continued reporting of unsafe roads and appropriate work will be conducted within budget constraints, such as the Pedestrian Crossing Review 2022/23.
• Residents regularly raise issues regarding e-bikes and e-scooters, which, although illegal to use on highways, pose anti-social behaviour and risk to other road users. Although this criminality may be targeted through Operation SPARK, robust Enforcement is needed to resolve this issue.
• It was noted that dangerous driving on the recently opened East Leeds Orbital Route had occurred, yet no accident had been deemed serious enough for speed cameras to be put in place, despite hospitalisations. The nearby country roads within the Outer North East area have been used to evade Police. 
• Wellbeing Budget funds had been allocated to Operation SPARK by the Harewood Ward Members, so clarity was sought as to why other wards in the city benefit from the scheme through Leeds City Council direct funds.
• A lack of action was outlined despite funding allocation and SIDs data gathered as proof of risk to public safety; in response to a question regarding the threshold for intervention, Officers stated they will take this data back and query with Traffic Management.
• Collisions and dangerous driving were noted at the A58 at Scarcroft and, outside a primary school, at A659 at Collingham. It was stated at a consultative meeting for Ward Members that cameras in these locations will need to be funded by budgets afforded to the wards which casts doubt on delivery of road safety initiatives in every area of Leeds.
• Flexibility to identify appropriate locations for new cameras is open for consultation. A follow up conversation was proposed regarding appropriate funding and intervention, with a report to return to the Committee.
• Mitigation to improve safety outside of schools for pupils was queried as it is a priority for Members and measures should be in place to prevent danger as opposed to waiting until a collision has occurred; funding should be allocated as a priority.
• SIDs had been ordered by Wetherby Ward Members in February 2022 yet were still pending installation. Notification of this issue will be sent to Traffic Management.
• In response to a question regarding the influence the service has on the Policing of distractions, such as mobile phone use when driving, it was confirmed a Safe Roads Partnership meeting occurs every 6 weeks with the Vision Zero strategy discussed. It was noted that Operation SPARK had been less active in targeting phone use as it can be difficult to gather hard evidence.
• The data gathered on road safety will be better informed if near misses are recorded. Current models use Police attendance or injury has taken place however better measures for reporting were under review.
• It will be helpful for a Vision Zero item to be presented at Parish and Town Council forums in the area, especially to provide information on road safety reporting processes.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and presentation, along with Members comments, be noted.