Partners promise action on the launch of refreshed road safety strategy

Partners who form the Bedfordshire Road Safety Partnership (BRSP) gathered at the council offices in Chicksands this month and pledged their commitment to working together to improve the safety of Bedfordshire’s roads for all users.

The refreshed road safety strategy, which is set to 2035, focuses on a long-term ambition to achieve ‘Vision Zero’, where nobody is killed or seriously injured on the roads of Bedfordshire; with an interim target of reducing current numbers by 50 per cent.

The partnership commissioned the services of UK leading road safety experts, Agilysis, and after a period of review, the new strategy has been launched with a commitment from all agencies to take collective responsibility to work towards all five areas of the Safe Systems principles. Work will focus on safe speeds, safe vehicles, safe roads and roadsides, safe road users and post-crash response.

Bedfordshire Road Safety Partnership (BRSP) Strategic lead, Deputy Chief Constable Dan Vajzovic of Bedfordshire Police, said: “The review recognised the positive work of the partnership and strong relationships, and has put a focus on a more coordinated and consistent strategic direction to enable the delivery of road safety in Bedfordshire. 

“We are reminded all too often of the dangers of the roads and we owe it to families, friends and neighbours to reduce the number of people tragically and avoidably killed and seriously injured on the roads in our county. We will work relentlessly towards our vision.

“This is not one individual organisation’s responsibility, and it is fantastic to see senior leaders from the political and operational sphere coming together. We must vote with our feet and time to get the best use of our finite resources to improve the safety of our streets.”  

More than 1,500 respondents engaged with a public consultation and online survey carried out as part of the partnership review. Road safety was the highest issue highlighted for action, and priority areas voted on by the respondents included improving safety on the roads, road maintenance, speeding, police enforcement and tackling anti-social behaviour.  

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) brought the recently launched Vision Van to the event, a road safety vehicle jointly funded by the BRSP and Office of Police and Crime Commissioner which utilises virtual reality to engage and educate young people. 

This new tool available to the partnership aims to show drivers the impact of their actions and is being used at community events and in schools and colleges. The aim is to make a lasting change to the behaviour of road users by using innovation to provide an immersive experience that allows young people to witness the consequences of distracted driving. 

The launch of the strategy heard the commitments of all partners to deliver the vision to 2035 and concluded with some words from Road Victim Trust Chair of Trustees, Lyn Hesse, who outlined the support the charity provides to anyone affected by a fatal collision. 

Phil McCarthy, Project Manager for the BRSP, concluded: “No death on our roads is acceptable so it is important we get the refreshed strategy right and drive delivery through the Safe System approach.

“This plan becomes the blueprint of improving safety before a journey even begins and reducing harm on the roads. It is imperative we set our collective ambition to make a difference to the road users in Bedfordshire and ultimately save lives.”

Actions and activity already being undertaken are:

• Central Bedfordshire Council devising a road safety plan based on data with the appointment of a new data analyst to better target resources and give the best response
• Training in school and colleges – delivery of the MORE course aimed at 16-30 year olds
• Virtual reality: launch of the Vision VR and purchase of VR headset to use as part of education
• Campaigns with local businesses
• Community Speed Watch initiatives
• Luton Borough Council vehicle safety days with local residents and business colleagues to deliver a hands on experience and make vehicles safer
• Launch of PolEd
• Police enforcement: seizing mopeds causing anti-social behaviour using Section 59
• Project Apex and Bike Safe workshops targeted a motorcyclists
• Site assessments for fatal collisions to understand and identify any issues with the roads.

Partner commitments

Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard said: “Partnership working is essential in making practical yet ambitious steps to delivering this plan. Good governance will make it happen and the review of the partnership and revised strategy is crucial for such a journey. 

“Road safety will play a big part in the police and crime plan, we have a duty to make this work for all those who use the roads in Bedfordshire.”

Deputy Mayor of Bedford, Councillor Jim Weir added: “This is people’s lives, and we need to do a lot of joined up working with our neighbours. I’m really pleased to be part of it, everyone is really engaged in getting it right. 

“There is a guarantee that Bedford Borough will be at the forefront of support for delivering the strategy and we will be calling for change on legislation around crossings, as well as increasing our visibility and enforcement. “ 

Councillor Javed Hussain, portfolio holder responsible for road safety at Luton Council said: “We are pleased to be supporting the vital work to keep people safe on the roads. Our vehicle safety days with local residents and businesses have demonstrated our commitment to one of the five areas of the Safe Systems principles – to make vehicles safe. We look forward to working in a coordinated way, through the partnership, with each contributing their valuable knowledge and expertise.”

Mark Smith, Deputy Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “I’m really pleased that we are part of this strategy launch. It demonstrates the collective commitment of all partners across the county, combining diverse skills, strengths, and resources to improve road safety for road users across Bedfordshire.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's Group Commander Prevention, Rob Hulatt, explained: “Among all the incidents we attend as a fire service, road traffic incidents consistently result in the highest casualty rates. The BRSP exemplifies effective collaboration, and we are pleased to offer the Vision Van to enhance learning and promote road safety. As an organisation, we are dedicated to supporting the implementation of this strategy and to reducing the number of individuals who are killed or seriously injured on our roads.”

National Highways Senior Engineer and regional enforcement coordinator Chris Smith said: “The refreshed strategy of BRSP ties in with the National Highways ambitious road safety initiative ‘Road to Zero Harm’, sharing the goal of reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads to nothing.  

“Of the Safe System principles we have a high level of control over just one element - safe roads - focusing on audits, road design, maintenance and site assessments. As a former Roads Policing Officer for the area for many years I’ve worked with key stakeholders to collaboratively tackle road safety, and this road safety partnership is a great example of joint working.”

Head of Clinical Operations (Bedfordshire and Luton) from East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) Marc Stanbridge shared with the room of local authorities and partner organisations the powerful story of the success of giving first aid education in schools. One student has since carried out their newly learnt skills in a public place following an input from EEAST. Marc pledged to increase schools visits to contribute to the joint working.

Dr David Kirby from the Luton and Dunstable Hospital reflected on expanding a valuable shared working practice between police and health into another key area. He said: “Being part of this road safety partnership is a really exciting development and enables us to apply our skills and expertise into an area we haven’t yet, to make a difference to what we as a collective know about road safety. We are already working in a similar way with violent crime and trauma, where we provide otherwise missing information on incidents where those injured self-present to hospital. 

“Those involved in minor collisions or who don’t want police involvement self-present to hospital in the same way, and have a lot of rich data on how and where incidents have occurred that before now hasn’t been available to the partnership. We want to expand our ability to protect and prevent by utilising the major trauma network across medical services to improve sharing of information and mitigate risk.”   

Road Victim Trust Chair of Trustees Lyn Hesse explained how the work carried out by just nine paid staff and more than 60 highly skilled and trained volunteers at the charity helps bring all those who use their services to a place to be able to face a new norm. Lyn thanked the work of all partners in the room and recognised the power of Vision Zero to bring everyone together in one place sharing the same focus.