Glasgow City Council has launched a new road safety strategy, with the aim to eliminate all road fatalities or serious injuries by 2030.
Statistics show road safety in the city has been steadily improving over the past decade with the number killed or seriously injured in general decline.
In 2019, nine people died and 160 were seriously injured as a consequence of road traffic collisions, with more than 750 people slightly injured.
Glasgow’s new Vision Zero approach will be based upon 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.
A range of measures have been identified as essential for the creation of the system, including improved road safety engineering and 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 safer streets must go hand-in-hand with a shift to more people using sustainable forms of transport.
She says a city wide 20mph speed limit would be central to creating that shift, but also through pursuing the development of low traffic neighbourhoods.
Cllr Richardson said: “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.
“To build healthier, more active communities, it is essential that we design streets for people rather than traffic. Introducing a city-wide 20 mph 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.
“The car free zones that form part of the 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.”
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