PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Jean Quinn
Date of Issue: September 18th 2009
Contact numbers:
0151 625 9547
07792 002972
Lib Dem office: 0151 691 8544

WIRRAL LIBERAL DEMOCRATS: IMPROVING CHILD ROAD SAFETY

Wirral Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transport Services, Councillor Jean Quinn today praised the Council's success in reducing the number of children killed or seriously injured on Wirral's roads.

Commenting on a report due to be presented to the Council's Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday night, Councillor Quinn said, “ When I first took over responsibility for road safety, an average of 31 children were killed or seriously injured on Wirral's roads each year. In 2005 alone, 37 children were killed or seriously injured. This was totally unacceptable and to address this failure, the Liberal Democrats have made it one of the Council's top priorities for improvement, securing almost £1m for road safety measures in 2009/10.”

The report shows that Wirral ranks second out of 88 other authorities, placing Wirral amongst the most improved areas in the country for child road safety.

Councillor Quinn continued, “I am pleased to see that the number of children killed or seriously injured has reduced from 37 in 2005 to the lowest ever recorded figure of 14 in 2008. This means Wirral is now performing very well in this area and is likely to meet its 2010 target. This has been achieved because the Council has a robust and detailed road safety action plan involving a wide range of road safety initiatives. Activities are prioritised to the highest risk situations.

Examples of innovative schemes and targeted activity contained in the Wirral RoadSafe action plan include:

• ‘Bring accidents down 2 zero.' This is a scheme that aims to reduce the speed of traffic in individual areas, without the need for traffic calming measures such as speed bumps and chicanes. Driving at 20 miles per hour through residential areas makes you 80% less likely to have an accident than if you drive at 40mph, and 40% less than if you drive at 30mph. Drivers are made aware of the advisory speed limit through the use of 20 mph signs, and will be encouraged to reduce their speed, though no legal enforcement will be in place. Leaflets are delivered to all the homes in the areas involved explaining the 20mph scheme. This has proved very popular amongst residents and councillors and a further 14 areas in Wirral are having the scheme rolled out to them this year
• Safer routes to school. These include measures such as new traffic regulation orders for example new double yellow lines, junction improvements to improve visibility and traffic flow, new puffin crossings, partnership work with the police on issues such as speeding, targeting of uninsured drivers (who are more likely to be involved in accidents), in-car safety (such as seatbelts and mobile phone use) and engagement of children, parents and staff on these issues through training sessions, information leaflets and holding events and competitions

Councillor Quinn concluded, “Whilst it is reassuring to see the progress that is being made and recognise the success of the work being undertaken, we must not lose sight of the fact that just one child killed or seriously injured on our roads is one too many – no child should ever be killed or seriously injured on our roads. Now is not the time for complacency and I will continue to work hard to ensure that every effort is made by the council and its partners to continue to reduce these numbers still further.”

To read the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee report, Road Safety – Reducing Death and Serious Injury on the Road CLICK HERE (PDF file)

To see a chart showing Wirral's position ranked 2nd out of 88 benchmarking authorities CLICK HERE (PDF file)