Road casualty figures continue to fall

The number of collisions on Greater Manchester roads has more than halved in the past decade, according to figures presented to transport leaders.

Transport for Greater Manchester Committee’s Capital Projects and Policy Sub Committee considered a report on road safety performance on Friday, which outlined the good progress being made to reduce casualties on Greater Manchester’s roads.

Overall, the number of road collisions per year has fallen by more than 55 per cent in the past 10 years – from 16,990 in 2000 to 7,585 in 2010 – and the number of people killed or seriously injured in collisions per year has fallen by more than a third.

The report also provided projections for the Greater Manchester Casualty Reduction Partnership’s aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in collisions over the next ten years from 743 a year to 551: the vision for 2020.

In addition to the human cost of a collision, Department for Transport figures indicate that achieving the 2020 target could save the Greater Manchester economy an estimated £3.5 million a year.

Transport for Greater Manchester is a member of the Greater Manchester Casualty Reduction Partnership.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chairman of the TfGM Committee, said: “It is encouraging to see such a dramatic reduction in the number of collisions and casualties on the region’s roads, but the hard work and determination must be maintained to ensure this downward trend continues.

“The behaviour and attitude of drivers is a constant factor in collisions but all road users should be encouraged to be more responsible for their actions. If this is put into practice, then I am confident the figures will continue to improve.

“That is why the partnership, which includes the ten Greater Manchester local authorities, will continue to introduce road safety interventions, including education and training through the Greater Manchester National Driver Intervention Scheme and local delivery projects, publicity information and campaigns, and enforcement through safety cameras and policing.”