CGS: Students from Leeds College of Building learn about road safety with help from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and Leeds City Council's road safety team.
The number of people injured on the roads in Leeds last year reached an all time low.
There were 2686 casualties in 2011- the lowest recorded figures since the district was formed in 1974.
The figures represent a reduction of 78 (3%) on the equivalent 2010 figures and a reduction of 17% on the 2006-10 five year average (3234).
The number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads fell in 2011 to 297 – seven fewer than the previous year and a 14% reduction on the 2006-10 five year average.
A total of 2389 road users were slightly injured, a reduction of 71 on the figure for 2010 and a 17% reduction on the 2006-10 five year average.
The figures were announced as Leeds City Council revealed that a record number of children and young people in Leeds learnt about road safety and sustainable travel last year.
Over 49,000 pupils of all ages took part in road safety education programmes between 1st April 2011 and 31st March 2012. The training could make the difference between life and death – as well as helping young people understand how the choices they make about transport can have an impact on congestion and the environment
The courses, run by Leeds City Council’s Influencing Travel Behaviour team, are designed to influence young people’s attitudes to road safety and to encourage them to choose lower carbon forms of travel, particularly for more local journeys such as getting to and from school.
The team uses a range of techniques to get the messages across, including drama, musical roadshows, and rescue demonstrations by the fire service
The work of the Influencing Travel Behaviour Team is part of a wider programme which includes engineering and infrastructure measures designed to make the roads safer for all users and ensure that casualty rates continue to fall.
Cllr Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for development said:
“It’s good to see the downward trend continuing, but even one death or injury on our roads is one too many. We must remember that each and every one of these casualty figures represents a personal story or pain and loss.
“ So often, we hear people refer to road traffic collisions to as ‘accidents’, but in many cases these collisions could have easily been avoided had one or more of the road users involved behaved or acted differently.
“That’s why educating people about using the roads safely and sustainably is crucial to our efforts. The work we do with partners in the fire service and the police to help young people understand the issues is particularly important. If we can positively influence young people’s attitudes now, then we stand a chance of ensuring that they become safe and sustainable road users for life.”
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For media enquiries, please contact: Annie Goodyear, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3937
Email: anniegoodyear@leeds.gov.uk
For more information on the work of the Road Safety Promotion Unit, please visit www.leeds.gov.uk/roadsafety or contact us at road.safety@leeds.gov.uk
