Road safety campaigners in Birmingham are issuing an urgent plea for action following a devastating spike in traffic collisions that have resulted in deaths and serious injuries.
A Week of Tragedy Sparks Urgent Calls
The calls for change come during National Road Safety Week, which has been marred by two serious incidents. A pedestrian tragically died in hospital after a hit-and-run in Harborne, while another pedestrian was left critically injured following a collision on Lawley Middleway.
This renewed demand for action follows an emotional service for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, organised by the charity RoadPeace West Midlands and West Mercia. The event saw families share heartfelt tributes and join the call for measures to prevent what they describe as avoidable deaths and serious injuries.
The Ten-Step Blueprint for Safer Streets
A coalition of 16 organisations, backed by the UK's first Regional Road Safety Commissioner, Mat MacDonald, has set out ten practical demands. The group intends to press local candidates in next May's council elections to commit to this blueprint.
The ten asks are designed to enhance safety by slowing traffic, better separating vulnerable road users from vehicles, and providing more travel choices to reduce car dependency. The full list of demands is:
- Roll out 20mph limits across the city
- Upgrade crossings and cut wait times
- Roll out more 'school streets'
- Do more work to enforce restrictions on speed limits, traffic lights, box junctions, banned turns and parking
- Clear pavements of vehicles for disabled people, children and those who rely on them
- Build a network of cycle lanes and cycle-friendly streets
- Install residential cycle hangars
- Make residential streets greener and calmer
- Upgrade public transport
- Change parking charges and permits to be based on the vehicle
Political and Moral Obligation
Road Safety Commissioner Mat MacDonald stated that preventing avoidable death or injury on the streets is not a political choice but a moral obligation. He emphasised that the coalition's asks provide a clear and attainable route for decision-makers to eradicate road deaths and create safe, sustainable communities.
Martin Price, chair of Better Streets for Birmingham, acknowledged some positive moves, such as reducing 27 main roads to 30mph and progressing new cycle lanes. However, he stressed that the ten steps are needed to fully address the road safety emergency and are based on global best practice.
Following a Freedom of Information request, the campaigning group discovered that local councillors have achieved several measures since 2022, spending £4 million. These interventions include 34 lots of 20mph zones, 20 pedestrian refuge islands, and five new zebra crossings.
Lucy Harrison, Justice and Outreach Manager for RoadPeace, concluded by stating that Vision Zero for road death and injury is not an impossible dream, but is entirely achievable with the necessary political will and investment.
