There has been a 30% fall in the number people killed or seriously injured in road collisions in Central Bedfordshire since the road safety education, training and publicity (ETP) function was outsourced to Amey at the end of 2010.
Amey’s five-year road safety ETP contract with Central Bedfordshire Council includes analysing statistics and delivering campaigns, events and training designed to reach the most at risk groups and reduce the number of road collisions.
By combining engineering solutions and raising awareness of issues, Amey and Central Bedfordshire Council say they can adopt a structured approach to casualty prevention and reduction.
Nick Gregg, managing director of Amey’s Local Government division, said: “These road safety statistics are not just numbers; they’re people’s children, friends and family members. We are proud that in one year, Amey and the council may have helped 46 people to stay alive, or live their lives to the full, through this joint road safety campaign.
Without yet having seen the data, I agree with almost everyone here that it is extremely unlikely that any safety initiative or change of policy could be responsible for such large changes.
Given the short period involved, and for the same reasons as my critiscms of the knee-jerk reactions to 2011 increases, I am very much inclined to see this as a random change – goodness knows, such year-on-year changes are far from uncommon, especially in small numbers for small areas.
Always, always check whether data has been cherry-picked to find the desired result.
Idris Francis Petersfield
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Drat!! Here was me thinking that we – a meagrely funded non-outsourced team – had done well with our 29.5% reduction over the same period. All achieved with a 30% reduction in overall resources. Looks like we’ll have to outsource to get that extra half percent. Seriously though,it doesn’t require privatisation to achieve an integrated approach towards casualty reduction. Innovation is a mindset which exists in many good teams the length and breadth of the country. The banner headline may well be viewed to be a classic case of a private company promoting their service(s) through a less than robust use of statistics. A little presumptious methinks, bearing in mind the complex nature of the overarching casualty causation landscape. There’s no doubt that any reduction in casualties is to be welcomed but I’d be interested to see the publicity pictures next year if the figures go into reverse.
Andy. Knowsley
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I would presume that when using data analysis techniques, it would be more robust to use a longer time series than 1 year? I would have thought monitoring the statistics over 3 or 5 years, would give a more robust indication of what is happening.
Rebecca, Leeds
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I have engaged with Bedfordshire and they have provided some of the underpinning data including some trends.
Interesting to note that fatalities in 2011 (7) are identical to the total for 2009. 2010 was a glitch (13).
Eric Bridgstock, Independent Road Safety Research, St Albans
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It is factually correct that KSIs have fallen by one third since Amey started to deliver road safety ETP on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council, but at no stage did either of the agencies involved state that this is a direct consequence of the contract. We can confirm that the number of fatalities has reduced by 46 per cent and serious injuries have reduced by 31 per cent.
We are pleased to see an improvement in road safety and I am sure we would all agree that any initiative which might support this is worthy of further study. We are currently going through a detailed evaluation of the service which will provide further evidence about the results of the contract, as well as related impacts on people’s behaviour. We will continue to share our findings with the sector.
Jon Shortland, Bedfordshire Highways
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I think it is very unlikely that two agencies could be responsible for the 30% drop in KSIs in central Bedfordshire – road user behaviour is far too complex for that. Also, how can these agencies claim credit for the behaviour of visitors to Bedfordshire?
It will be interesting to see the statistics for the next 4 years but I would also add that quoting frequency counts is not enough of an analysis to achieve an accurate picture of what is going on.
Dr James Whalen, Wolverhampton
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Road safety improvements are always welcome but it seems a little premature to claim credit. Is there a convincing cause and effect link? Less than a week ago, this website reported significant falls in Scotland – not “outsourced”. Also, I’m suspicious of KSI only reports – have deaths and serious injuries both fallen significantly? Serious injuries can be under-reported. I think we should be told.
Eric Bridgstock, Independent Road Safety Research, St Albans
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