West Midlands leaders set out plan to tackle dangerous driving

Greater enforcement of speed limits and increased use of dashcam footage as evidence are part of a major crackdown on dangerous driving outlined in a new road safety plan for the West Midlands.

The Road Safety Action Plan, launched at the National Road Safety Conference, outlines 23 actions for the regional road safety partnership, which includes police and local authorities, to help cut the number of road deaths and serious injuries.

And it will be delivered with the help of the dedicated road safety commissioner, who will work with partners to keep the plan on track.

Actions include:

• Funding for extra staff to review speed camera and dashcam footage to increase the number of people prosecuted for speeding and dangerous driving.
• A quarterly review of all road deaths and serious accidents to learn lessons and advise on action
• Working with the food delivery industry to improve safety and compliance for their staff
• Further action to identify and remove uninsured vehicles and drivers from our roads
• Work with media to highlight successful prosecutions for dangerous driving – showing justice being done
• Provide additional support for victims through restorative justice and organisations like RoadPeace
• Work with local councils to design safer streets

The plan has been drawn up by West Midlands Police, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), local councils and the West Midlands police and crime commissioner as part of a commitment to improve safety.

It is expected to be approved by the mayor and council leaders at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) board meeting on 15 November.

Richard Parker, mayor of the West Midlands, and Simon Foster, West Midlands police and crime commissioner, are also lobbying Government over fixed penalty fines for driving offences – allowing the partnership to keep the money in the region and invest it in road safety. 

Currently income from local fines – worth more than £2 million in the West Midlands each year – goes straight to the Treasury.

The Mayor said: “Too many lives are left devastated by the dangerous driving of a few irresponsible motorists who treat our roads as a racetrack. This action plan sets out how we are going to make our roads safer for everyone and save lives. This includes putting more people to work reviewing dashcam and CCTV footage so we can bring reckless drivers to justice.

“And we have started the search for a person to fill our new role of Road Safety Commissioner. This is the first time we have had a dedicated commissioner to improve the safety of our roads. This person will use their profile to promote road safety and make sure we are delivering on this action plan to make journeys for everyone safer.”

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