The last 12 months have seen tens of thousands of young people
receive additional education, more dangerous drivers than ever
before brought to justice and new support for victims, says the
West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
These are just some of the achievements a year on from major
organisations across the region uniting to end all road death and
serious injury by 2040 through the West
Yorkshire Vision Zero Strategy.
The anniversary is being marked with a free, family-friendly
event in Millennium Square Leeds on Thursday
14th August which will include access to
emergency service vehicles and interactive stalls.
The Vision Zero Strategy focuses on the safe system approach -
safe roads, behaviours, speeds, vehicles and an effective post
collision response.
Under each of these themes sit objectives for the short and
longer term but at the strategy's heart is the message that
everyone has a responsibility to keep people safe on our roads,
and we must all work together to create the lasting change
needed.
Emergency services, local authorities, National Highways, victim
support services and road safety campaigners are united behind
the strategy.
Highlights from the strategy's first year include:
- A new Independent Road Victim
Advocate service being launched to support victims.
- 13,000 children, across 83 schools in the region being part
of an innovative educational
project.
- 7,500 dangerous drivers were brought to justice with help
from members of the public through Op Snap.
- From April 2024 to March 2025 police officers on patrol in
our communities issued 39,310 fixed penalty tickets for traffic
offences, and safety
cameras detected over 279,000 speed and red-light
offences.
- Urging the Government to introduce lifesaving Graduated Driving
Licences, backed by the families of victims of road death.
- Over 750 child car seats being assessed across 25 events,
with a new set of free check
events currently running.
In 2023 50 people were killed and 1400 were seriously injured on
West Yorkshire's roads. Provisional figures for 2024 show 40
people were killed and 1277 were seriously injured, whilst there
is much more to do, the reduction is positive.
, Mayor of West Yorkshire,
said: “A year ago we launched West Yorkshire Vision
Zero, because the only acceptable number of road casualties is
zero.
“Behind the statistics are real people with families and friends
who are all deeply affected by each and every road death and
serious injury.
“Our first year has seen some fantastic work, but there's still a
long way to go and we're committed to building on this to keep
everyone safe in our region.”
OBE, Chair of the West
Yorkshire Vision Zero Board and Deputy Mayor for Policing and
Crime, said: “There is no greater purpose than
keeping people safe so we remain united behind Vision Zero.
“We don't want anyone else to suffer the loss of a loved one or
be seriously injured in completely avoidable circumstances.
"We're on the right path but we need everyone to get behind
Vision Zero to make it a reality, so please do your bit.”
A Vision Zero road safety event now takes place every year. This
year's is in Leeds, running from 10am to 4pm and will include:
- Access to a range of police and fire service emergency
vehicles.
- An interactive and educational experience with a National
Highways vehicle.
- A reaction tester.
- Cycling support, including free bike marking to help keep
your bike safe.
- An opportunity to share your views with consultation teams on
road safety and local transport, helping to shape future plans.
- Plus a range of other fun, interactive, and educational
activities.
Find out more about the event at https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/vz-event.
Show your support for keeping everyone safe on our roads by
signing the Vision Zero
Pledge. You can also dedicate your pledge in someone's
memory.
Vision Zero Partner
Quotes
Chief Inspector James Farrar, head of West Yorkshire
Police's Roads Policing Unit, said: “As police
officers were frequently see firsthand the devasting impact of
preventable road traffic collisions.
“Behind every statistic is a grieving family or a person whose
life has changed forever.
“That's why we remain committed to educating road users to change
behaviours and enforcing the law to take dangerous drivers off
our roads.
“Using a combination of visible police patrols, safety camera
technology and engagement and education we will continue to work
to make West Yorkshire's roads safer for
everyone.”
Andy Shaw, Road Safety Lead at West
Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We've
really valued our partnership with Vision Zero over the past
year, making our roads safer through ongoing education and
collaboration. Through youth interventions and community events -
including car washes, tyre checks, school visits and RTC demos -
we've engaged with hundreds of people across the region, raising
awareness of the ‘Fatal Five': speeding, not wearing a seatbelt,
drink and drug driving, careless driving, and distractions. We
remain committed to working towards our collective goal of
preventing deaths and serious injuries on West Yorkshire's
roads.”
Deputy Leader and executive member for
economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor
Jonathan Pryor, said: "It's a significant moment
for Leeds as we gather to mark a year since the West Yorkshire
Vision Zero launch, and crucially, three years since Leeds began
our ambitious journey towards zero road deaths by 2040.
“In that time, we've worked tirelessly with our partners,
pioneering initiatives amongst other the roll out 20mph zones
around all our schools, providing vital road safety training to
40,000 children annually, and strategically installing average
speed cameras across the city. These efforts demonstrate our
unwavering commitment to reducing collisions and saving lives on
our roads, bringing us closer to a safer Leeds for
everyone."
Councillor Tyler Hawkins, Cabinet Member
for Highways and Waste in Kirklees Council,
said: "Kirklees Council are proud to be part of the
West Yorkshire Vision Zero Partnership. We want to play our part
in the fantastic work already happening across the region to make
sure there are no deaths or serious injury on our roads by
2040.
No one should have to experience the pain and devastation of a
life lost or changed forever on our roads. It's not just the
council's responsibility to make roads safe – it's everyone's. We
are working hard alongside our emergency services, charities,
volunteer organisations, neighbouring local authorities, and with
local schools and drivers to get the message out and make our
roads safer for everyone across West Yorkshire."
Calderdale Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health,
Cllr Tim Swift, said: “Any road casualty has
devastating impacts across families and communities, and we take
our responsibility to prevent people being injured on our roads
incredibly seriously.
“We're proud to be part of the Vision Zero Partnership and over
the last year our work has included efforts to educate and change
attitudes, as well as using targeted enforcement and introducing
new legal tools to tackle dangerous behaviours. We'll continue to
do all we can to make our roads safer, for everyone.”
Councillor Matthew Morley, Cabinet Member for Planning
and Highways at Wakefield Council, said: “Vision
Zero West Yorkshire represents our collective determination to
put an end to serious injury and death on our roads. In Wakefield
we're continuing to push forward with our work to create safer
roads and safer behaviours. As well as getting more businesses
and residents to pledge their support to Vision Zero.”
Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's Executive Member
for Regeneration, Planning and Transport
said: “Road deaths and injuries are devastating for
families. We must do all we can to prevent such
accidents. Bradford is pleased to have adopted the
principles for Vision Zero and to have worked together with West
Yorkshire Combined Authority during the last year seeking out
areas of high risk and using all available resources both in the
council and in our partner agencies to remove death and serious
injury on Bradford's network.”
