The Government has announced £47.5 million in funding to enhance the safety of some of the most high-risk roads in England.
Through the third round of the Safer Roads Fund, 27 new schemes will be delivered, benefiting road users around the country through improvements such as:
- re-designing junctions
- improving signage and road markings
The Government hopes the programme will lower the risk of collisions, in turn reducing congestion, journey times and emissions.
Mark Harper, transport secretary, said: “Britain’s roads are some of the safest in the world, but we are always looking at ways to help keep drivers and all road users safe.
“We’re injecting £47.5 million so that local councils around the country have the support they need to keep everyone safe, while reducing congestion and emissions and supporting local economies.”
The allocation of funding has been based on data independently surveyed and provided by the Road Safety Foundation. The data analysed is based on a road safety risk, looking at data on those killed and seriously injured alongside traffic levels.
According to Road Safety Foundation analysis, early estimates suggest that the £47.5 million investment should prevent around 760 fatal and serious injuries over the next 20 years, with a benefit to society of £420 million.
Dr Suzy Charman, executive director of the Road Safety Foundation, said: “Systematic changes have already had a big impact on road death and serious injury, for example seatbelts and airbags protect lives when crashes happen.
“In the same way we can design roads safely so when crashes occur, people can walk away. This can be done by clearing or protecting roadsides, putting in cross hatchings to add space between vehicles which provides safer junctions like roundabouts, or adding signalisation and / or turning pockets, and including facilities for walking and cycling.”
The funding has been welcomed by the RAC.
Simon Williams, RAC road safety spokesman, said: “Redesigned junctions together with clearer signage and better road markings are integral to improving safety.
“While we’re pleased the Government is taking steps to tackle some of the country’s most dangerous routes, we remain keen to see its wider plans to reduce the number of fatalities as part of the long-awaited road safety strategy.”
To date, £100 million has been provided through the Safer Road Fund to improve the 50 most dangerous roads in England, the majority of which are rural roads.
Some of the improvements already made include improved signage, safer pedestrian crossings and better designed junctions.
Comment on this story