A MAJOR push on making local roads safer has been launched across the West Midlands region.
And the aim is to work towards an ‘environment where no-one is killed or seriously injured on our roads’.
The pledge came by local leaders in a joint statement issued by the Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, Transport for West Midlands, West Midlands Police, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Birmingham City Council, and the Mayor’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner.
The action comes in the wake of protests following the death and injury of several pedestrians in the region.
The wide-ranging statement said: “In recent weeks, several unacceptable acts of road violence have led to needless deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
“The outrage felt by communities is clear and justified.”
As a result of the drive, a new programme of actions has now been set in motion. These are:
1) A new Operation Triton, led by Police to focus on relentless enforcement of the rules of the road through intelligence-led operations and hot spot enforcement.
2) A second team on the West Midlands Police Road Harm Prevention Team will bolster efforts to enforce against people who endanger vulnerable road users.
In addition, two new road crime teams will work day and night to target the most dangerous of drivers.
3) Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) will launch a new high-profile road safety campaign supported and co-funded by each partner.
4) West Midlands Police will grow capacity for third party reporting, giving communities power to submit dash cam and helmet cam footage to support police in tackling anti-social driving
5) Birmingham City Council will consult on reducing speed limits on main roads in the city to 30mph from 40mph and has commenced a pilot scheme to give pedestrians more time at road crossings.
6) West Midlands Police to equip local policing teams to tackle road safety in their communities, with a particular focus on anti-social driving and speeding.
Overall, West Midlands Police will work towards a significant increase in speed enforcement from 2024.
Birmingham City Council will accelerate its A45 active travel scheme with spades in the ground for the first phase by this winter.
In September, TfWM will launch a revised Road Safety Strategy with the goal of a 50 per cent reduction in those killed and seriously injured on the road network by the end of 2030.
