Scores of people have now signed the Essex Vision Zero pledge – described as the first of its kind in the UK – demonstrating their commitment to eliminating deaths and serious injuries on our county’s roads.
The Vision Zero pledge, which was launched by the Safer Essex Roads Partnership during UN Global Road Safety Week in May, gives individuals, schools, businesses and organisations across the county an opportunity to make a stand against road harm.
While road deaths and injuries are gradually reducing, 48 people were killed and 3,515 people were injured in crashes on Essex roads in 2022 alone.
Will Cubbin, manager of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership, said: “There can be no other number that we strive to get to, than zero. People make mistakes, but nobody deserves to die or suffer life-changing injuries as a result of their mistake or somebody else’s.”
“Around 50 people die needlessly on the roads of Essex each year, but this does mean that we already achieve zero deaths on more days than not. If we all play our part to make the roads work as a safe system, then we should be able to achieve zero all the time.”
As well as many members of the public and organisations, among those who have signed the Essex Vision Zero pledge so far are:
- Roger Hirst – Essex police, fire and crime commissioner
- Cllr Lesley Wagland – chair, Safer Essex Roads Partnership Board
- Rick Hylton – chief fire officer, Essex Fire and Rescue Service
- Adam Pipe – head of roads policing, Essex Police
- Tiptree Neighbourhood Watch
- Will Cubbin – manager, Safer Essex Roads Partnership
- Nicola Foster – chair, Safer Essex Roads Partnership
- Trevor Hall – managing director, Road Safety Support, Essex
Will Cubbin added: “We believe the Safer Essex Roads Partnership Vision Zero pledge is the first of its kind in the UK. Other countries have taken this approach and have attracted considerable support from the public and organisations for this vital approach to road casualty reduction.”
“We are hopeful that by highlighting the unnecessary suffering caused by road crashes and the need for us all to take responsibility when we use the roads, more and more people in Essex will show their support for Vision Zero.”
These are organisations with reputations to uphold and therefore, understandably and expectedly, would want to be seen to be publicly supporting any road safety initiatives..all very well and good..but if we turn now to the many individuals behind the wheel who are causing the very problems we’re trying to counteract, how many of them have ‘signed the pledge’ as suggested in the headline? Any advance on er…. none?
Hugh Jones, Cheshire west
0
To pick up on the comments so far: The idea behind the pledge is that when people see others have publicly shown support for safer roads and road use, it will help set expectations for them to use the roads more safely themselves. It gives those who sign it the opportunity to show positive peer pressure for safer roads and safe road use.
It is important that prominent public figures sign the pledge and show support, but the rest of us must not underestimate our own importance. We are all influencers in our own circles and anyone who signs can help direct the power of the people towards achieving safer roads.
The pledge compliments the rest of our road safety delivery plan which provides education, publicity and police enforcement operations supporting road safety across Essex.
William Cubbin, Chelmsford
0
I’m all for these type of pledges as it is a another great tool in engaging with road users. We in Northern Ireland have been using a similar pledge for quite some time now on our Share the Road to Zero website (http://www.sharetheroadtozero.com). Good luck all!
Lynda Hurley, Belfast
+1
I think it is reasonable that these people have signed the pledge not as “Joe Public” drivers, but as persons who have a responsibility for creating conditions and behaviour on the roads that will result in zero death or serious injury. The exact pledge is “I pledge my support for zero road deaths in Essex”.
Hence implicit within this is to pledge support for changes in strategy and actions within their organisations that will reduce road deaths and serious injury.
We should all therefore hold them to account. No deferring, no denying, no dithering. The changes required are quite clear. One of these is lower urban/village speeds and I look forward to urban/village speed limits in Essex being aligned with the best practice of a maximum of 20mph wherever motors mix with cyclists and pedestrians in a planned manner unless there is clear evidence that a higher speed is safe using protected provision.
Politicians and officers should be encouraged to put their words into action. Lets all watch out for such actions in the months to come.
Rod King, Lymm
0
Agree with Hugh. Of course the great and good of Essex that were listed signed it, they could hardly not! As with all these pledge-type initiatives, they are very unlikely to be signed by the sort of road users that we want to target.
Keith Wheeler, MK
+1
Being ‘committed’ to eliminating deaths and serious injuries is one thing, but there’s no mention of how this is going to be achieved or how the signatories are going to bring this about.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
+2