The number of people injured in a collision on South Yorkshire’s roads in 2019 dropped for the fifth year in a row – the latest Department for Transport figures show.
Last year, 95 fewer people were injured in road collisions in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, representing a three per cent drop.
The figures – released this week - put South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership (SYSRP) well below its 2020 target of 3,601 casualties which was set as a milestone in the county’s 2017 Road Safety Strategy.
Joanne Wehrle, manager of SYSRP, said: “We are moving in the right direction but work must continue with our partners in the police, fire service and local authorities, to make sure that the numbers are reduced even further.
“While there are a number of positives to take from these figures, still 3,231 people were injured in a collision, tragically 48 people lost their lives and 929 people were seriously injured.
“The pain and heartache caused by road collisions changes lives forever and we are determined to do everything we can as a partnership to prevent this. But we cannot do it without YOU – our communities. We need you to please share our roads safely and responsibly.”
Inspector Jason Booth, of South Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group, said the force was committed to creating safer roads across South Yorkshire.
“In a bid to reduce casualty numbers across our roads, we work closely with partners to ensure that those who are willing to put their lives and the lives of others at risk are educated, caught and prosecuted.
“We aim to educate road users, but we also carry out regular enforcement operations to tackle driving offences and ensure we are focusing on the issues that cost lives and matter to our communities the most.
“Work with our partners will continue to explore new and innovative ways to reduce the number of casualties as one life taken is one too many.”
One of the priority road user groups for SYSRP is 17-24-year-old car users and this week’s figures show that the number young car users killed or injured on South Yorkshire’s roads has dropped for the third year in a row.
Between 2018 and 2019, the number of 17 to 24-year-old car drivers and passengers, injured in a collision, reduced by nine per cent to 419 across all four districts.
“Car drivers and passengers in the 17 to 24-year-old age bracket have been one of our priority road user groups for many years,” added Joanne.
“This reduction is a real testament not only to the work of the partnership but also those young drivers using our roads responsibly and safely after passing their tests.
“By working with colleges, schools and driving instructors to offer worthwhile and focused interventions, we hope to reduce the numbers even further over the coming years.”
The figures also show:
• The number of slight-injury collisions in 2019 dropped by eight per cent to 2,245.
• Fewer powered-two-wheeler casualties in the 16-24 age bracket were recorded – a drop for the second year in a row. In addition, the overall number of powered-two-wheeler casualties dropped by 14 per cent.
• 141 children aged 16 and under were injured on our roads – a 15 per cent drop from 2018 and the lowest figure in recent history.
“We are seeing fewer and fewer children injured on our roads which can only be positive news,” added Joanne,
“Sadly, however, we have seen an increase in the number of adult pedestrian casualties.
“We will continue to deliver our vulnerable road users campaigns, including Be Bright Be Seen and our young adult pedestrian Dance in the Club intervention, to ensure that we are targeting the right groups in the right way.”
