South Yorkshire roads toll down

Last year 34 people died and 401 were seriously injured on the highways and the 435 total is down by nearly a fifth compared to 2009.

In March 2000, the Government’s road safety strategy tasked the region with a reduction of 40 per cent from the mid-1990s average of 732 incidents within ten years.

This has been met and the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership—including police, fire service councils and the Highway Agency—are now looking for further reductions.

Chairman Chf Supt Keith Lumley: “We are continuing to achieve a reduction in the number of fatal and life threatening collisions.

“However although these figures have improved dramatically since county-wide figures were first recorded in 1979, we still need to do more.

“Behind each of these statistics is a grieving family or someone coming to terms with a life changing injury.

“The partnership will strive to do all we can with the resources available to continue to further reduce casualties in 2011 and beyond.”

Research shows the main causes of collisions include not following the green cross code, reckless driving and speeding.

Partnership manager Ken Wheat, who co-ordinates activities and budgets across South Yorkshire, said it was pleasing to hit the Government target.

He added: “It reflects the hard work and dedication of all those working in the field over the years. In addition I would also like to thank the public of South Yorkshire who have played a key role in helping us to reach this target.

“Despite this success we can't be complacent and we will proactively seek to achieve continuous improvement in this vital area of public health and wellbeing.”