Glasgow City Council has launched a new road safety plan that they hope will reduce fatalities and serious injuries to zero by 2030.
The number of people hurt on Glasgow’s roads has declined over the last decade. However, in 2019 nine people died and 160 were seriously injured as a consequence of road traffic collisions with over 750 people slightly injured in these incidents.
The council’s safety plan – named Vision Zero – will be based on creating a ‘Safe System’ for the city’s road network that is designed to minimise the likelihood of collisions occurring but also reduce the consequences of such events when they do happen.
The plan will include measures such as improved road safety engineering, enforcement, introducing safety cameras at key locations, initiatives that improve road safety around city schools, education projects, cycle training schemes and road safety campaigns.
Cllr Anna Richardson, city convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, believes that safer streets must go hand-in-hand with a shift to more people using active forms of transport. A city wide 20mph speed limit would be central to creating that shift, but also through pursing the development of low traffic neighbourhoods.
‘Road collisions have an immeasurable impact on those directly involved, but also create a significant financial impact on public services. But concerns about road safety can also deter people from walking, cycling or spending time outdoors,’ said Cllr Richardson.
‘To build healthier, more active communities, it is essential that we design streets for people rather than traffic. Introducing a city-wide 20mph speed limit will be a crucial element of creating a safer roads environment. Slowing vehicle speed opens up opportunities for people to walk and cycle more often, which in turn improves the environment we all live in.
‘Initiatives such as the car free zones that form part of School Streets initiative are helping to reduce traffic around school gates and we will continue to make Glasgow increasingly safer for cyclists by extending the growing network of cycle lanes across the city. Implementing low traffic neighbourhoods will limit through traffic on residential streets and will help to create safer spaces within communities where people can feel more confident walking, wheeling or cycling.
‘No level of death or serious injury is acceptable in our road transport network. Our vision of zero serious or fatal incidents by 2030 is undoubtedly challenging, but achieving this target will make an enormous difference to the well-being of the city.’
