The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging local authorities to ‘keep road safety in mind’ in the face of likely further substantial cuts to funding.
Ahead of the Spending Review on 25 November, RoSPA has produced a guide for senior decision-makers in local government and other agencies on how to most cost-effectively use decreasing road safety funds.
Making Road Safety Count explains how organisations can provide cost-effective road safety programmes that are: informed by local data and evidence; prioritise high risk groups and areas; based on a Safe System approach; planned and delivered in partnership with other agencies, and in consultation with local people; and evaluated to assess effectiveness and identify improvements.
Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at RoSPA, said: “Local authorities have statutory duties to provide road safety, including taking steps to reduce and prevent accidents, promote road safety, and secure the safe movement of traffic and pedestrians.
“They are already struggling with the very real challenges of assessing the most effective way to allocate smaller budgets across the full range of local government activity.
“Road crashes and casualties cause immeasurable loss and trauma, and impose a huge burden on local services, causing a significant proportion of A&E attendances and hospital admissions, as well as massive costs on local authority, police and fire and rescue services.”
Making Road Safety Count has been produced by a sub-group of RoSPA’s National Road Safety Committee which comprises AIRSO, PACTS, British Motorcyclists Federation, CTC, London Road Safety Council, IAM, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), and RoSPA.
Graham Feest, chairman of the National Road Safety Committee, said: “Making Road Safety Count has been produced to show how this toll can be reduced by providing cost-effective road safety programmes.
“It is also intended to demonstrate the value of providing effective road safety services, and to encourage local authorities to protect road safety spending as much as possible in the current economic climate.”
Any extra weapons in the armoury when dealing with elected members and senior managers is most welcome. Being able to set out our stall in an national context is a valuable element of those discussions. A timely resource!
Iain Temperton – Norfolk
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