A new road safety strategy for Birmingham has been developed which focuses on the three issues of safer roads, safer people and safer vehicles.
The ‘Road Safety Strategy for Birmingham’, produced by the Birmingham Road Safety Partnership and based on the ‘Safe Systems’ approach, was officially launched last week at the West Midlands Fire Service HQ.
The strategy includes an action plan, co-ordinated and delivered by the Partnership and based around the following three themes:
“By working in partnership and carefully analysing road safety data we can move towards our vision of safer roads for all.
“But I also want to take this opportunity to remind the public that we all have a part to play in this, whether we are drivers, pedestrians, cyclists or other road users.”
The Birmingham Road Safety Partnership comprises Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service and multiple community groups and third sector organisations.
The strategy launch event saw members of the Partnership come together to talk about what they are aiming to achieve and to unveil some of the tools they will be using to do so. Other attendees included community safety groups and school representatives.
Resources showcased at the event included a Central Motorway Police Group simulator demonstrating the dangers of drunk, tired or distracted drivers, and virtual reality goggles from West Midlands Fire Service, putting the wearer in the passenger seat of a car involved in a serious road collision (pic below).
There were also demonstrations of the ‘Give Space, Be Safe’ initiative – a city council and police collaboration designed to educate drivers on the safe distance to leave when passing cyclists – while members of the council’s road safety team were also on hand to discuss the recently implemented 20mph limits.
Perhaps they would be interested in becoming the first authority to take up a safer aspect of driving using the space is safe campaign or double your distance where due to increased distances between vehicles more can be seen, the roads become less crowded, pedestrians can see and be seen by approaching vehicles, some that may have been hidden previously by others and the whole road scene can change with a little effort outlining what a safe follow on distance is.
Bob Craven Lancs
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