Agenda item

The Committee received a presentation from Angela Redmond, Road Safety Manager which provided an update in respect of road casualty performance in 2021 and 2022, provided an update of child casualties in County Durham and highlighted current initiatives and outline objectives moving forward (for copy of slides see file of Minutes).

The Road Safety Manager referenced road casualty statistics for County Durham for the period 2018-2022 together with average statistics for the period 2010-2014. Whilst stating that the data summary appeared to show a positive downward trend, there were still unacceptable numbers of killed or seriously injured people which has remained static. In considering the summary data for 2022, members noted a 2% reduction in injuries across all categories whilst remaining concerned that serious injuries and fatalities had increased slightly.

Members were advised that considering year on year trends across County Durham, injuries tended to occur around the main urban centres including Durham City, Peterlee, Chester-le-Street, Consett, Stanley, Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe. The presentation contained heat maps which provided a visual representation of these statistics across County Durham.

The main age groups for casualties remained 16 to 30 year olds with car occupants the largest category by some way. In respect of causation factors and the fatal 4

the highest remained failure to look (46%); speeding (15%) and drink/drug driving (14%).

Members were provided with details of the education undertaken with schools to promote safer and considerate parking messages to parents and carers as well as encouraging active school journeys. This frequently involved supporting pupils to leaflet drop the areas around their schools in order to raise awareness of the concerns. Reference was also made to the launch of the DCC road safety team Facebook page which offered an opportunity to utilise social media to promote the wide range of road safety activity undertaken by the road safety team as well as promoting road safety messages from partner agencies within the County Durham and Darlington Casualty Road Safety Partnership.

The Road Safety Manager concluded her presentation by reporting upon the enforcement activity and engineering works which aimed to contribute to road safety and reduce road casualties.

Cllr Hovvels thanked the Road Safety Manager for her presentation and suggested that as part of the ongoing engineering works, the council should examine road markings in key areas particularly around junctions and schools which may need upgrading or repainting. She also referenced the “mini police” initiative involving young pupils at Wheatley Hill School who assisted in monitoring car parking/traffic issues in the locality and suggested this initiative could be considered for roll out elsewhere in the county. The Road Safety Manager reported that this initiative was part of the safer schools project which was being extended in Newton Aycliffe to introduce a “walking bubble” within a 400 metre radius of a local school.

Cllr Hovvels also asked about the role of traffic enforcement officers and whether it was possible to have a heat map indicating where they were operating. The Road Safety Team leader indicated that he would examine the availability of this information and report back to committee in due course.

Cllr Boyes expressed concern regarding the content of the report and presentation. He suggested that this painted a much more positive picture than that which he experienced in his employment. He suggested that driving habits had deteriorated since the absence of traffic volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic. He had sent dash Cam footage for a number of incidents which he had experienced around bad driving.

Cllr Mavin referenced information within the presentation around speeding and enquired whether the council was considering extending the 20mph zones in towns and villages including around schools. The Road Safety Manager indicated that that initiative had been time limited and dependent on resource availability.

Cllr Martin asked if traffic enforcement officers where issuing fines to motorists to deter parking around schools. He also asked if any comparative data for road casualties was available for neighbouring local authorities to allow benchmarking to be undertaken. The Road Safety Team leader indicated that detailed data was available through Durham insight which would allow members to drill down and examine statistics in their electoral divisions.

Cllr Lines suggested that a societal change was needed to encourage a reduction in car usage in towns and villages particularly for short journeys. He referenced a wide range of initiatives that the council was promoting in respect of active travel.

Cllr Oliver suggested that the density and increase in town and villages sizes nationally appeared to result in the introduction of more 30/20mph zones but that this practice appeared not to be replicated in County Durham. The Road Safety Manager indicated that this was a matter for the strategic traffic management team to give consideration to as it required a step change in road infrastructure which would have to be undertaken within legislative parameters.

In view of the concerns raised by members around 20mph speed limits and the 20’s plenty initiative, the Chair suggested that consideration be given to an informal briefing session on the subject as part of the 2023/24 Work Programme.

Resolved:

That the Committee note the information contained within the report and presentation and an informal session on the 20’s plenty initiative be included in the 2023/24 SSCOSC Work Programme.