The latest data for South Yorkshire shows that 791 people were seriously injured as the result of a road traffic collision between July 2022 and June 2023.
During the same period, 39 people lost their lives on South Yorkshire’s roads.
Combined, these figures represent a five per cent increase compared to the same period in the previous 12 months.
When you break it down, that’s more than 15 people seriously injured in a collision every week.
That’s more than 15 people every week who need to be kept in hospital as an in-patient, or suffer any of the following injuries:
fractures
concussion
internal injuries
crushings
burns (excluding friction burns)
severe cuts
severe general shock requiring medical treatment
injuries causing death 30 or more days after the collision.
This is not acceptable.
We have to work together to stop families and communities suffering the heart-breaking consequences of death and serious injury on our roads.
The question is, how can we prevent the collisions that cause these injuries?
How can we prevent the collisions that lead to loss of loved ones?
South Yorkshire, like other regions, has adopted the Safe System approach to road safety with an ultimate aspiration of eliminating all death and serious injury.
The Safe System relies on shared responsibility to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.
To prevent harm on our roads, the following must be in place:
Safe Roads
Safe Road Users
Safe Vehicles
Safe Speeds
Effective post-collision response
Every member of our partnership has a role to play in meeting these aims.
Every member of the public who uses our road network has a role to play in meeting these aims.
Only by working together can we stop 15 people a week being seriously injured, or even worse, on South Yorkshire roads.