Have your say on Vision Zero strategy to end road death and life-changing injury on Greater Manchester’s roads by 2040

Greater Manchester residents can have their say on new plans to eliminate all deaths and life-changing injuries on the city-region’s roads by 2040.

An online survey launched this week will allow residents and stakeholders to help shape the action plan for the implementation of the Vision Zero strategy for Greater Manchester.

It will also provide an opportunity for individuals and organisations to share their personal experiences and thoughts on the city-region’s roads. This could include whether they feel safe crossing the road as a pedestrian, have suffered the loss or life-changing injury of a loved one in a road collision, or are prevented from walking, wheeling or cycling for fear of being involved in a collision.

The survey is open until Sunday 10 March and will be followed by further public engagement in May which will last around two months.

People who would prefer not to complete the survey online can request support to complete the survey in an alternative format by contacting TfGM Customer Contact Centre on 0161 244 1000 or emailing saferroads.group@tfgm.com.

A finalised Vision Zero Strategy and action plan will go before the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) later this year.

Last month a draft version of the Vision Zero Strategy was endorsed by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and other GMCA leaders.

Vision Zero, which has been adopted in other parts of the UK, Europe and the United States, aims to stop road death and life-changing injury by 2040, while also halving the number of casualties by the end of this decade. It is intended to enable safe, healthy and equitable mobility for all.

In the last ten years nearly 10,000 people who live in, work in or visit Greater Manchester have been killed or seriously injured on our roads.

Between 2018 and 2022, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists accounted for nearly two thirds of those killed or seriously injured, while drivers and passengers made up 34% of casualties.

By taking decisive action in Greater Manchester, around 3,800 avoidable deaths and life-changing injuries could be prevented by 2040.

Peter Boulton, TfGM’s Head of Highways and spokesman for Vision Zero Greater Manchester, said: “Last month the GMCA endorsed a draft version of our Vision Zero strategy, and it is now time for the people of Greater Manchester to have their say on what is a vitally important document.

“I would urge everyone to get take part in the survey and share their views on our proposals to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, and to make the roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists.

“Road accident statistics only reveal a small part of the impact of road death and life-changing injury in Greater Manchester. We now want to better understand the personal experiences behind those statistics.”

In 2022, there were 71 traffic fatalities or serious injuries every month in Greater Manchester. In total 64 people were killed over the course of the year – 25 of them pedestrians – and each of these deaths was preventable.

Alongside the devastating pain, grief and suffering which results from road collisions, they place additional strain on the emergency services. Victims are often left unable to work or facing medical costs.

Development of Greater Manchester’s Vision Zero Strategy and Action Plan is being led by the Greater Manchester Safer Roads Partnership on behalf of the GMCA. Members of the partnership include Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, National Highways and the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities.

In the UK, Vision Zero has been adopted in several local authority areas, including regions neighbouring Greater Manchester like West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region.