A new approach to prevent death and serious injury on our roads is laid out in a new Safer Roads Strategy for Barnsley which Cabinet will be asked to approve on Wednesday 25 January.

Over the past ten years, Barnsley has seen a significant reduction in the number of traffic collisions on our roads. Estimates suggest, thanks to the efforts of Barnsley Council and our key partners on the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership, there have been more than 700 fewer road casualties. Of these, it’s estimated more than 330 would have resulted in serious injury or death.

Our new Safer Roads Strategy aims to further reduce these numbers. It’s about saving lives and preventing serious injury and it has been prepared jointly by our Public Health and our Highways and Transport services.

The strategy proposes an internationally recognised ‘Safe System’ proactive approach, which fully aligns with South Yorkshire Safer Road Partnership’s strategy for South Yorkshire.

Our ambition for Barnsley is a further 50% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by 2030.

Cabinet members will be asked to approve the strategy, through which we will develop a shared understanding and responsibility for making our roads safer. We will work alongside our communities, elected members and key strategic partners including National Highways and South Yorkshire Safer Road Partnership (SYSR).

Cllr Caroline Makinson, Cabinet spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “I’m sure everyone would agree that every single death or serious injury is a tragedy and is one too many, therefore we have a long-term goal of nobody being killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“This strategy sets our approach to 2030. It aims not only to reduce the number of people who are killed and seriously injured on our roads, but also improve perceptions of safety, enabling mobility and active travel. This will directly contribute to our ambitions for Barnsley as the Place of Possibilities, particularly for a healthier Barnsley.”

Cllr James Higginbottom, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment and Highways, said: “Each person killed or seriously injured on our roads is one too many. Through our Barnsley Safer Roads Strategy, we have set the target of a 50% reduction in people killed or seriously injured on our roads by 2030; and a long-term aspiration of zero deaths by 2050.

“It is a bold target, underpinned by an ambitious but achievable strategy, one that brings together our services, partners and residents with the ultimate aim that we all want to see: safer roads for all of our motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.”

The full Cabinet report can be found here.